Possible primary school appeal

morganb

Have also just thought; they may decide, like some schools, to move the 5 oldest in one year to join the next year, so that you have 30 in Reception and 35 in R/1 (this would still count as 30 in Year 1 and 5 in this Reception class, this is how some schools get round it ... I know, last year I taught a Year 5/6 class of 36)

BernadetteN

I sympathise very much with the fact that you may not be able to get your child into the nearest geographical school.

However, on medical grounds, unless you have sound reasons to believe that your medical problems have a direct consquential effect on your children, I cannot see any appeal going very far on that issue.

On the grounds that you have to get to 2 different schools, this is quite normal for many families. We have 4 kids at 3 different schools - I visit 2 of them and the eldest goes on the bus or walks to the 3rd one. Some families have kids in infant/first schools which feed into junior/middle schools where there is a considerable distance between the schools. Parents jsut have to manage, either by getting early to one school and on time to the other one, or by doubling up with other parents. I know a mum of 5 who tried to appeal against her son's failure by one mark to get into the grammar school where his elder brother attends, on the grounds that it was unreasonable for them to go to different schools many miles apart whilst her also doing the school run to the local primary with the youngest children. She also had an older daughter who was at home long-term sick and also holds down a part-time job with unsocial hours without help of the children's father. She lost her appeal and had to change her work hours and find someone to take the youngest to primary for her. It seemed really unfair on her and the family but that's life I suppose.

BernadetteN

poet123 wrote: »

Faith schools are not paid for by your taxes they are Voluntary Aided schools which means they are paid for largely from the church funds.

85% of funding for controlled and voluntary aided faith schools comes from the state, the other 15% is theoretically made up from the faith's coffers.

100% in Scotland

If I'm wrong about that, someone correct me please.

rumpelstiltskin_2

Have you asked the school what they do about the 9 children who are in catchement who may not get into the school this year? Is it possible they'll go to 2 classes (by putting a port-a-cabin in)?

Mumstheword

During the last discussion on the faith school funding topic, as far as i remember it was suggested that they got the same funding per child for the education. The building running costs were paid as normal, but the upkeep of the actual building (repairs etc) were paid 90% state and 10% voluntary funded.

I suppose each area could work differently so there may not be a set formula, but one thing I would stake my hat on is that faith schools are NOT run without any state money!!

If that was the case, I would remove my objection completely. I have no issue whatsoever with independent schools running without state funding and choosing which kids they want. But if they are state funded, I want my kids to be as eligible for a place as my church going neighbours kids.

I agree that faith schools have a better reputation (big generalisation, but ...) than county schools...on the whole. Which is why I want my kids to be included in that, should I want to send them there! I want the best for mine just like others want the best for theirs. Currently, my oldest goes to a school which selected him, and I have to pay for that in full. I think it's the best place for him as an individual. Relatives go to a selective school which they think is best for their kids....funded by the state as it's a faith school.

OP...really sorry to hijack your thread. I think from your posts you have got the replies you kind of expected, and wouldnt have mentioned this if you were still waiting for answers lol:)

poet123

Maybe she chose that school for other reasons?

With ref to funding of VA schools. If such schools offer places as they do, to non faith children, how do you suggest their education is funded? or should they become entirely self funding and refuse anyone other than those of the particular faith?

Faith schools today are far more secular than they have ever been,yes, they give priority to those of a particular faith(after the criteria of public care etc) but if places are available afterwards then anyone can apply for a place for their child.

Any organisation which is self funding to a degree also has an amount of autonomy because of that. I am not sure of the % involved but even 10% is a large amount when spread across the number of faith schools in the country. Take that contribution away and those kids still have to be educated and then the taxpayer is paying more for a lesser service.

silvercar

All the schools in my area give priority to siblings. So everyone works on the basis that you get the eldest in and then don't have to worry about the others. In my opinion it is right and sensible that you should be allowed to give all your children the same primary education if that is what you want.

Mumstheword

poet123 wrote: »

With ref to funding of VA schools. If such schools offer places as they do, to non faith children, how do you suggest their education is funded? or should they become entirely self funding and refuse anyone other than those of the particular faith?

I'm suggesting the same rules apply as the rules that apply for schools who select on any other grounds not recognised by the LEAs. ie, available to all, with SEN/siblings/distance as the set criteria, or self funding if they want to be otherwise selective. Either that or make other selective schools free, too. I just want a fair playing field.

Faith schools today are far more secular than they have ever been,yes, they give priority to those of a particular faith(after the criteria of public care etc) but if places are available afterwards then anyone can apply for a place for their child.

so it's a selective school

Any organisation which is self funding to a degree also has an amount of autonomy because of that. I am not sure of the % involved but even 10% is a large amount when spread across the number of faith schools in the country.

I read it at the time as 10% of the repair work to the buildings, not the running costs, not staff costs, not heat, light etc, just the repairs to the building @10%

Take that contribution away and those kids still have to be educated and then the taxpayer is paying more for a lesser service.

Yes it would cost the taxpayer more. But it's a very small price to pay relatively speaking, for the freedom to select your own pupils. Following your arguement, kids at private and public schools still have to be educated too, so why dont they get the funding faith schools do?


I'm just pointing out the unfairness of selection on the grounds of faith being free, but selection on the grounds of academic ability being completely un subsidised. It's as if we are saying that it's more important for religious kids to be educated with other religious kids, than for academically gifted kids to be educated alongside similar kids.

poet123

What you pay for in selective fee paying schools are smaller class sizes and probably better sporting facilities. If you are happy to have your child educated in the state system why pay for education? Selective schools do not mean your child is any more academically gifted than most other children simply that you have chosen to have your child tested for selection. There are many talented and gifted kids within the state sector,their parents may either not have the funds to pay for schooling or be against private education for other reasons. If you choose private education then you will have to pay for it.

dobs

the trouble is that catchment areas get changed. My nearest primary school which i went to, was my catchment school. Howeve my son is there now but although i still live in the same street where i grew up the catchment has changed and his actual catchment school is further away than this one! I sometimes wonder how it is worked out as his schools catchment area now are two small villages, where they only get about 3 pupils a year, then it is thrown out to the ones whohave a faith and can get a letter from their vicar/leader etc, which we did at the time but i doworry about how to get my 2nd child there next year as we no longer have thatreligion in our lives. It seems daft that are nearest school is not our catchment one -doesanyone else have this problem?