* Daughter has not been offered a place at ANY of the schools preferred *

nh101

I would totally agree with the previous poster - I went to a "rubbish" school. Only 33% of kids got 5A-Cs at GCSE but I got eight (and six As) because I was bright and the teachers spent a lot of time with me cos I worked hard. However there were a lot of kids who got let down, they tended to be the ones whose parents didn't care. You obviously do care so you are giving your child the best possible chance. I went on to do a Law degree and am a journalist now so you CAN succeed at a "bad" school.

And remember, the league tables are usually a con: 5 A-Cs often doesn't include maths and english. Lots of schools seem much worse when 5 A-Cs include maths and english.

silvercar

more places will become available in the next few weeks as children holding places at popular state schools opt to go private. Most children intent on going to private schools also apply through the state system as a safety net in case they don't get offered any private places, so waiting lists do move.

CharleneUK

I've read each and every post and can't thank you all enough to contributing to this thread.

It's much appreciated and I'm feeling a lot better now. I will wait and see what happens, but accept that being sent to a 'bad' school may not be the end of the world!

x

HappySad

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote:

What i would do, i know its cheeky, but enrol her in the better of the less preffered schools but keep options open for the acceptance in a better one - trust me many people do this and this is why you end up with placements becomeing available (eg, someone has been accepted in a few good ones, but obviously can only choose one so have to reject the other, thus open placement again).

Yes you can get good outcomes from this but i really suggest you get in contact with the schools and get on their waiting lists a.s.a.p because it will be a first come first serve basis - and you really want to be near the top of their list!!!!

Good luck - but go get on the phone now!!!!

My local authority does not do first come first serve with waiting list... instead they do the closer you live the further up the waiting list you are. so if you put in all the effort in choosing a school then you are behind everyone else who just chooses a second before the application date close but lives closer. It is the same with application and also the waiting list....so you would need to check with your council.

Also if you are placed 3rd and someone else goes ont he waiting list that lives closer then you would move to 4th and that person would get a place before you even though they joined the waiting list months after you.......

such a pain for those parents that spend time (years ) looking into their child school...compares to those who do it all at the last minute... but that is how it works here so you have to work with the rules./

HappySad

Justie wrote:

there should be details of your local area's appeals procedure - appeals aren't bound by the same entry criteria as initial applications so if you have a good case because of proximity or educational requirements then you stand a good chance of getting into a school on appeal. Don't get too downhearted just yet it may be a bit of a fight but there are websites out there to help and your LEA should be able to guide you through the next stage.

What are these websights that can help you with your application appeal called?????

HappySad

nh101 wrote:

I would totally agree with the previous poster - I went to a "rubbish" school. Only 33% of kids got 5A-Cs at GCSE but I got eight (and six As) because I was bright and the teachers spent a lot of time with me cos I worked hard. However there were a lot of kids who got let down, they tended to be the ones whose parents didn't care. You obviously do care so you are giving your child the best possible chance. I went on to do a Law degree and am a journalist now so you CAN succeed at a "bad" school.

And remember, the league tables are usually a con: 5 A-Cs often doesn't include maths and english. Lots of schools seem much worse when 5 A-Cs include maths and english.

I have been reading what everyone has said with great interest. I am to apply for schools this year and my two closest schools are not too good. This is for my son's first school who would start school next September.

1. school. parents say it is OK but also say that bullying is a problem in that many of the teachers ignore it. One parent's child was allowed to bully the other children without being dealth with and then the next year the victims turned on the bullying child.. all with the teachers doing very little. Then the parent pulled that child to another school and that school gave him special attention and worked on his behaviour and he is doing very well ( he has a behavioural problem). There are other parents who mention bullying at that school

2. school 2 .. better than above acedemically but children are seen to be "rough" and not very well behaved

3. school 3 which is only 25mins walk way has 10 applying for each place because it is stat/test results are excellent. 97% reach the grade for Stats1 & 2. Every award going for a schol this school has. We have considered renting temporaily to have a slim chance of getting into this school.

4. school4 - private school. good reputation & facilities. Teachers looked enthusiastic and happy in teaching the children and children looked well behaved. Obvious down side would be we would definately have toh ave a scholoship for fees and would want this for my current son & next child to be born.

I don't know what to do? go for local school that is not so good but then he would get the social side of having friends that live close by. Go for private school.. would we be able to afford it and would my son be OK with the rich kids majority? Should we go all out for the popular school and rent for a slim chance for getting the most popular school.

I do know in my head that its what the parent do with the child and this influences the child to get the most out of a school so that they suceed.. but my heart says that would it not be better that he goes to the "best school" so that he can get my family input along with the school??????

I feel this is a hard decisino as this would greatly effect the near and long term future of both my children (2nd one not born yet.. due in May) .. I so feel for you CharleneUK.. it is very hard and stressful in making the right choice...

NAR

Charleneuk, did you perhaps set your targets too high?
Everyone wants the best for their children (as any caring parent should) but perhaps a bit of realism needs to set in.

seven-day-weekend

It's not setting your sghts too high to want your child to go to a decent school.

I suggest CharleneUK keeps fighting (she may of course find she is happy after all with one of the other schools).

D&DD

Hi Charlene I'm a local too next borough tho..I now have 2 of mine at seniors and do sympathise with you as the admission policies in Croydon and Sutton and Merton IMHO are all heavily in favour of people with a more affluent lifestyle..My eldest sat the entrance exams to 3 grammars here and narrowly missed out on 2 BUT a third he sat the test for,four boys went from his primary and they all ended up failing to gain a place but all getting exactly the same scores?? We live on a council estate and couldn't afford a private tutor to get him in but after speaking to my brother who went to the school in question he actually confessed his life there was less than happy anyway as he came from an 'ordinary' family...
We applied in the end for a school which didn't have the best scores in our LEA (in fact they were towards the bottom and had a terrible reputation when I was at high school!!!)but we were so impressed by the staff at the open night,and well..my eldest just sat his mocks at xmas and got 5a* and 4 a and b grades :T They are now one of the sought after schools in the borough and this sept my middley boy started there.He has a real physical disability which makes even getting to school an acheivement for him (the school is now also a sports college :rolleyes: ) BUT they have bent over backwards to accomodate his needs and even arranged a sport he can do as part of his physio too.He is also thriving there..
I guess what I'm trying to say in a rather kind of wafflley way is go with your gut feeling about a school..If your child is prepared to work hard they will thrive wherever they go.Best of luck to you both

Quackers

D&DD wrote:

I guess what I'm trying to say in a rather kind of wafflley way is go with your gut feeling about a school..If your child is prepared to work hard they will thrive wherever they go.Best of luck to you both

Ditto.

My daughters school isn't the best one that was available but its a school I knew she would be happy at.

Charlene - Its good to see that other peoples opinions have reassured you. Dont worry - it'll all work out in the end. This is one of the most stressful decisions ever. I hope it all goes ok for you.