School admission rant

tarzanette

We live opposite a secondary school, literally opposite - I can see the school gates from my kitchen window. My son hasn't been offered a place there, so unless we successfully appeal, he will have to walk 40 minutes to school.
Stupid system. 

thriftylass

You're option is always to appeal. Unfortunately, the fact that you can see the school has no bearing on the set school boundaries and pupil capacity. He could always cycle to school. Quicker and quick workout done.

DoaM

Is the school in a different county, and the county boundary line just happens to run down the middle of your road?

pickledonionspaceraider

Is the one over the road a better school?

kathrynha

Did you put it as your first choice and put your application in on time?

tarzanette

Thanks for the replies. I was just ranting and didn't really expect any questions (or replies).
The County line explanation seems to be correct. We are in a different postcode area to the nearest school so "as the crow flies" we live miles away. Somebody needs to buy that crow a satnav. 😁

tarzanette

Wrong emoji, erm  no idea, sorry.

molerat

A school near me has a catchment area defined by a road and the school is surrounded by houses. If you live on the same side of the road as the school you are not in the catchment area.

KatrinaWaves

tarzanette said:

Thanks for the replies. I was just ranting and didn't really expect any questions (or replies).
The County line explanation seems to be correct. We are in a different postcode area to the nearest school so "as the crow flies" we live miles away. Somebody needs to buy that crow a satnav. 😁

As the crow flies means literally a straight line, not taking into account roads/obstacles, so how can you live miles away if you live opposite...

Undervalued

tarzanette said:

Thanks for the replies. I was just ranting and didn't really expect any questions (or replies).
The County line explanation seems to be correct. We are in a different postcode area to the nearest school so "as the crow flies" we live miles away. Somebody needs to buy that crow a satnav. 😁

I sympathise but you have to draw a line somewhere.

I live within a mile of my doctor's surgery. Strangely though, I could move up to about eight miles in one direction and remain a patient but if I crossed a river less than half a mile away I would have to change doctor!

pickledonionspaceraider

Undervalued said:

tarzanette said:

Thanks for the replies. I was just ranting and didn't really expect any questions (or replies).
The County line explanation seems to be correct. We are in a different postcode area to the nearest school so "as the crow flies" we live miles away. Somebody needs to buy that crow a satnav. 😁

I sympathise but you have to draw a line somewhere.

I live within a mile of my doctor's surgery. Strangely though, I could move up to about eight miles in one direction and remain a patient but if I crossed a river less than half a mile away I would have to change doctor!

I know exactly what you mean about Doctors surgeries, It is so arbitrary

I can literally see the nearest GP out of my window - it is literally directly opposite. This GP runs a service for my specific illness, whereas no other GPs locally offer this.

But I am out of the catchment area.  The catchment area runs directly down the middle of the road, so they  have people coming from 6 miles in the opposite direction, yet people on the same street cannot register because I am 10 foot out of the catchment area

Like I said, no other GPs offer a clinic for my illness, so I made a complaint to NHS england, as IMO this is terrible patient care to refuse someone treatment that they need, due to being 10 foot out of the boundary.  The complaint was not successful and my condition has deteriorated and if it continues, I will have to leave work in the not too distant future. It has had such a negative impact on my life - yet seemingly there is nothing that can be done.  I feel like I am being pushed on to benefits.  NHS England said that Doctors are free to take people on, it is up to the GP surgery.

I understand they have to draw the line somewhere, but a catchment area should IMO circle the school or doctors, so it is actually for locals. Or it is not actually a 'catchment' area - the word 'catchment' doesn't even come in to it, it isn't a service for local people if you live directly opposite

Anyway OP - how is the appeal going?