Who's freaking our about school admissions?

evansmummy

When dropping my son off at pre-school this morning a teacher mentioned she'd be handing out school admission forms. This year our area has to list a choice of 5. Eek! :eek:
To add to the anxiety we're moving to another city to take advantage of better schools but it's looking as though we're not going to be moved into catchment areas until after school places are allocated.
Gone are the days where you went to the nearest local school with all your buddies. Now I'm paying through the nose for a smaller house so I can get my children in decent schools. :mad:

gonzo127

not freaking out at all, as although we could end up with any one of 4 schools, my only concern is for her to be happy, and at her age its not as if she wont be able to make some new friends at which ever school she gets into, although i guess it helps that all 4 schools are generally ok and none are classed as failing

balletshoes

I had a small freak-out when I had to put down DD's preferences for secondary school at the end of September - now its done (I didn't put down the maximum number of choices) theres nothing else I can do.

Catchment, I have to say, wasn't even a consideration for me when we bought our house. Having said that, after the minor freak-out I had, if I had my time again, I would have bought a very similar house, for a very similar price, in the catchment area (ie 2 streets away). But then again, when we bought our house, I wouldn't have wanted DD to go to either of the 2 high schools nearest us, so things can change a lot in a couple of years.

evansmummy

gonzo127 wrote: »

my only concern is for her to be happy, and at her age its not as if she wont be able to make some new friends at which ever school she gets into

Yeah you're right. As long as my son's happy I will be but I want the absolute best that money doesn't have to buy

Marisco

evansmummy wrote: »

Gone are the days where you went to the nearest local school with all your buddies.

Aye well this is what happens when people were screaming "give us the option of sending our kids to a school of our "choice"!!! They got their "choices" and they are still not happy!! They should go back to the old way, you go to the school nearest where you live, and if it's full, you go to the next nearest.

flutterby_lil

Our closing date is 15th Jan and we find out 23rd April so I guess most places are similar.

I too am a bit apprehensive about schools but not freaking out as such. I too want what is best for DS and us including location, convenience and my number one choice. I am happy for him to get one of two schools I am putting down.

elvis86

I can't see the sense in the notion of choice within schools (or any public service for that matter). Surely there shouldn't be a choice as you shouldn't be able to differentiate between one state school and another? They should all be of an equal standard, richer people shouldn't be able to "buy" their kids a place at a better state school.

Just the same as any member of the public going into an NHS hospital should be able to expect the same level of care.

This idea of choice is wrong IMO, the focus should be on ensuring that all public services are of the same standard, and the only way to "buy" you or your family better should be to go private.

neneromanova

I'm freaking out more on the fact that my eldest is starting school next september! Where have the years gone?!

I've only put 1 school down as it's a 5 minute walk and the next "nearest" school is a 10 min drive away.

dangers

neneromanova wrote: »

I'm freaking out more on the fact that my eldest is starting school next september! Where have the years gone?!

I've only put 1 school down as it's a 5 minute walk and the next "nearest" school is a 10 min drive away.

I don't want to worry anyone, but I've heard that our local authority are putting these applications to the bottom of the pile if they only have the one choice on. Apparently we have children coming to school in our town from outside the area, but children from within the catchment area who couldn't get a place because of this reason. I believe our local pre schools have been told to advise parents of this.

neneromanova

dangers wrote: »

I don't want to worry anyone, but I've heard that our local authority are putting these applications to the bottom of the pile if they only have the one choice on. Apparently we have children coming to school in our town from outside the area, but children from within the catchment area who couldn't get a place because of this reason. I believe our local pre schools have been told to advise parents of this.

Well that's just stupid! How is that fair? What local authority are you in?

evansmummy

dangers wrote: »

I don't want to worry anyone, but I've heard that our local authority are putting these applications to the bottom of the pile if they only have the one choice on. Apparently we have children coming to school in our town from outside the area, but children from within the catchment area who couldn't get a place because of this reason. I believe our local pre schools have been told to advise parents of this.

I wouldn't dream of putting one school down for that reason. I would rather put some acceptable schools down than get given something miles away cause I've not filled it in properly.
It's not fair that local people can't get into school because out of towners have only put one choice down.
I'm having to move to an expensive area to secure the school of my choice. I resent having to do it sometimes but if it means I get the school I want then we'll sacrifice for it.