Has Anyone's Child not got a place at their preferred primary school?

spendaholiceejit

Hi (Please dont move as I am looking for NI specifically)

The Primary School letters are due to be sent out tomorrow saying whether the 3/4 year olds have been accepted to their first choice school. My little boy has applied for local reception class. He is an August birthday so is one of the oldest.

A lot of my friends in England have not got their first choice schools so I was wondering if that is as common here? Should I be worrying about this letter arriving. Especially as he has no siblings at the school.

Any input welcome.

Ex-Spendaholic

Hi

Does he go to the nursery attached to the primary school? If so then there is usually a good chance that he'll get into the primary school. When a school is oversubscribed they do take into account distance from home, siblings at school etc.

Having read various forums, the situation in England in relation to primary school places seems much worse than here.

I hope you get the school you want - it is a stressful time. We are waiting to hear on a grammar school place for our eldest and nursery place for our youngest. I would really love to go to sleep and not wake up until those letters arrive. :rotfl:

freddie_2

Thanks so much, I was not sure when they were coming out, Know to look for it tomorrow now. (if not in hospital, 3 days over due now!!)

We didnt get a nursery place at the start,(finally got one after begging on waiting lists) so fingers crossed we get 1st choice school. Will prob be prep if we dont.

spendaholiceejit

Hi Freddie,
I'm not sure if they are coming out today or are posted today but it is definitely the date on the sheet.

Our DS didn't get into a pre-school or nursery last year as he is August born and so was not one of the priority. I *think* he's fine this year as my SIL is friends with the primary one teacher and she was telling her the numbers for Sept and they are quite large for our area.

caz2703

Slightly off topic but I have an August born son - what's the problem with this? He's not due to go to school for quite some time yet but I know he's going to be one of the eldest in his class and hence almost a year behind those born in June when it comes to school intake dates but what other stumbling blocks does an August birthday present?

msgnomey

I always thought that august born babies were the youngest in the class...has this changed?

charlieb02

msgnomey wrote: »

I always thought that august born babies were the youngest in the class...has this changed?

I always thought this too. My son is a August baby (29th). I have got his name down for the school nursery who will hopefully started in september. Though will just have turned 3.

kidshorsesdogs

Things may have changed but I'm July 20th my friend was June 21st, we were a year apart in school, I was oldest in my class and she was the youngest in hers.

spendaholiceejit

The system changed in 1992.

July/August children do not start primary one until they are 5. They are the oldest in the class. This leaves them a year later starting school than the June babies in the same class. It sounds like a disadvantage but it is actually an advantage to them as statistically (yes I know there are exceptions and it all evens out at secondary school) Summer born children are that bit more mature and perform well in examinations.

Our DS had no chance of getting in to the local Pre-school as it was over-subscribed and being the youngest candidate at only 3 years old last year there were too many others that needed the places ahead of him. Depends on your school. My friend's daughter is an August baby and she missed out on a place too.

caz2703

Thanks for the responses. When I left primary and went onto secondary education there were 2 girls with birthdays 1 month apart in July and August. One was 12 when she started 1st form and the other girl turned twelve 11 months later. To me it seems daft that my son would have to wait an extra year to start school and will be behind kids who are only a month or two older than him.

spendaholiceejit

We just got our letter. He starts in September and he's so excited.