Support thread for parents of chilldren sitting the transfer test in 2011

Pmum

Well if it wasn't oversubscribed then why were they turning away kids with,

"...great scores, but because Daddy wasn't a Doctor or Solicitor ..."?

Third_Time_Mum

caz100 wrote: »

What makes it worse is that bullies from her primary school that I had to removE her from in p6 is going to the school with (much lesser grades )that she has been accepted to also. Her friend from her new school got a few extra marks so she got in to her first choice which makes my daughter extra fearful and me much more angry about the whole situation.:(

Caz, I wonder if you would have grounds for appealing to the Exceptional Circumstances Body because of your fears that your daughter might be bullied again by the same people you had to remove her from in primary school? I suppose the hope of being successful in an appeal has to be balanced against the unsettling time it will be for her until she knows for sure what school she is going to.

caz100

Pmum wrote: »

Well if it wasn't oversubscribed then why were they turning away kids with,

"...great scores, but because Daddy wasn't a Doctor or Solicitor ..."?

It always has been oversubscribed but applicant numbers are increasing every year so I should have said not as oversubscribed.Back then they only had grades to go on and sibling eldest child policy from then on it was lottery!

caz100

Third_Time_Mum wrote: »

Caz, I wonder if you would have grounds for appealing to the Exceptional Circumstances Body because of your fears that your daughter might be bullied again by the same people you had to remove her from in primary school? I suppose the hope of being successful in an appeal has to be balanced against the unsettling time it will be for her until she knows for sure what school she is going to.

Hi third time mom contemplating it as I have substantial evidence but not sure if would be sufficient for a successful case.

Charliedevil

Caz can't help but wonder does your child know that you are appealing??

caz100

Charliedevil wrote: »

Caz can't help but wonder does your child know that you are appealing??

Hi charliedevil I haven't told her anything,she is very upset and fearful so i am trying to get her to focus on the school she has been accepted into. I haven't decided on whether to appeal or not as I know what the schools criteria was set at and I know even if I do appeal the likelihood of my thoughts on the matter being taken into consideration are zero. So no i shall not be telling my daughter about my efforts if I do decide to waste some time doing so.

Charliedevil

Good decision! She wouldn't need the stress after the 16 weeks of waiting! Is her 2nd choice school having an induction day?

caz100

Charliedevil wrote: »

Good decision! She wouldn't need the stress after the 16 weeks of waiting! Is her 2nd choice school having an induction day?

Yes early July so hopefully things will look brighter by then. I'm glad it's not anytime soon so she has time to adjust.

leftieM

steveymp wrote: »

Caz, I really feel for you, I know the school you are talking about and friends and relatives of mine have had an equally hard time trying to get their children into it, all got great scores, but because Daddy wasn't a Doctor or Solicitor they did not get a place

Stevey, not everything people say is true and may be sour grapes on the part of people who are unsuccessful. I presume they had no evidence. If they did they would have had a good legal case.

flymetothemoon_2

Pmum wrote: »

Fourth on the waiting list for a large school sounds quite hopeful. Did the school say when the children who have been offered places have to respond by?
There are bound to be a few who change their mind or move house between now and September.

Caz
Pmum has made a good point, 4th on the waiting list fora large school is quite hopeful. My child's grammar is slightly larger and there have already been 2 new kids accepted during the past year (Form 1) one was due to a kid who moved house and I'm not sure about the other. Also, a friend of mine whose kid didn't get into Methody last year was offered a place in late August as someone turned their place down so her kid started Methody on day one of 1st year so I would say to you that all is not lost.;)
If the school in question is St. Marys, M'felt, I notice (from info published in the Bel Tel) that it is not, in fact, so oversubscribed (some Belfast grammars turn away more than 100 kids some years). St. Mary's only turned down 18 kids last yr and 16 the yr before and accepted 6 B1s last yr and 19 B1s the year before so your DDs chances are probably very good if you just hold onto your place on the waiting list. It could also happen that if a place comes up, some of the people above her on the list give up on the idea and no longer want to move their kid. Hope it works out for your DD - she is clearly very deserving of a place.