A few weeks ago I wrote a rather pithy post (My School Place Hell) about my annoyance at the prospect of not being able to get a place at our local school, despite living right behind it and moving into this house SPECIFICALLY so our children could attend said school.
Well last week I was waiting with baited breath for the results of my constant worrying and moaning over the past year. The email was supposed to come direct to my phone, but surprise surprise it didn't come as there was some sort of "problem" with the email system. This doesn't exactly inspire confidence does it?
So I had to ring the admissions office myself, the lady I spoke to sounded depressed and downtrodden, as I would if I was shouted at by disappointed parents all day. Anyway, we did not get a place. Yes that is right, we did not get a place at a school only metres from our house because "there are more than the usual amount of siblings in that year group". So basically, if you have managed to get an older child in, move 50 miles away or have never lived near the school at all, your child would take priority over mine! It's completely ridiculous, and a "new" rule (typical).
Now I don't know what to do. We've got in at another school, but the facilities aren't as good and it's a car ride away. There are at least 5 other children I know that LIVE NEARER THAN US who also have not got a place. Is it even worth appealing? I feel utterly utterly drained and fed up. Will nothing ever go our way?
Those rules have applied down here for years.. Very annoying I agree but it's not workable to have siblings at different schools either. Have you asked where you are in the queue for a place? You'll be surprised at how many people take places and then move/go private/ or accept another offer. It may not happen straight away but I've known lots of people get offered places in january. I know it's a pain as you'll have shelled out for uniform at another school, plus the disruption to DS1, but in my opinion worth a try. Dont forget once he's in your laughing interms of DS2
ReplyDeleteI agree about the different schools but apparently some schools are dropping the sibling rule as people are doing very unscrupulous things to get their elder children in at their desired schools then moving out of area, but their other children are sorted as they will take priority. I know a family who live in a neighbouring village which itself has a good school. They got their elder child here in a low birth rate year now their child has got a place in my son's year even though they live miles away. Seems unfair when they have a perfectly good school nearby.
DeleteI've put Son1 on the waiting list at the desired school but I don't hold out much hope!