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..My son will start secondary school next year. We did the rounds of visiting schools earlier this year, and cos apparently there is a choice now, put our top 4 preferred schools on the application form.

These top 4 schools were also the 4 closest schools,, not including the school his primary school feeds into. We didn't put that one, because my son has had two years of bullying, and the child responsible is going to that school and has older siblings there.

Then, earlier this year we got a letter telling us we didn't get ANY of our choices, and allocating us the worst, failing school in our town. It would have been a 3 bus journey, setting off at 6.20am. It has a 30% pass rate at 5 c grade gcses, is in the middle of well known crack and drug dens, had a stabbing over the road last year... and is generally a NO NO.

So we started the appeals process for three of the schools that rejected our application. This entailed us going to 3 x quango panel meetings to hear the school defend its decision, and 3 x quango panel meetings to put our case forward.

I was heading out to one such meeting today.

Just had a call from the council... we did put a sneaky application in last week to a good school in the neighbouring county (with a fab reputation, and one of my son's friends is going there).... and they have just rang to confirm he's got a place.

Am so releived... this was making me feel physically sick... am soooo happy!!!


Am all done up with nowhere to go now though!

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Well done...it must be a huge relief!

The school allocation thing is a nightmare...thankfully I only have to do it one more time!

I kept my oldest son home and taught him myself for half a school year rather than send him to one of the dross schools round here, not that he was ever actually offered ANY place at ANY school by our LEA.
Croctacus
quote:
Originally posted by tupps:
Clapping yaaay

I'd still go to the meeting Ninja imagine the fun you could have Ninja


We did think about it...

I nearly fell off my chair when I first saw the panel... there were the three quango stereotypes sitting there....

...well spoken, forceful yet fair, glasses on end of nose woman chairman.... mad hair beardy bloke (in a spitting image michael foot style)... and right-on socialist, voice of the people youth worker type bloke.

Though to be fair, I was dead impressed with them... they knew their stuff, they were sound, just the system is a bit twisted.
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by Gypsie:
congratulations Clapping im just about to start the fight to get my daughters school changed and im not looking forward to it. Im glad its sorted for you.


This was making me feel sick... hubby's redundancy was NOTHING compared to this school crap. When my boy found out the school he'd been allocated he went pale, started shaking, and then burst into tears and cuddled me (v out of character). Am so relieved.

FWIW... the appeals process is pretty good... its not a hopeless battle... just read read read around the process and criteria.
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by FGG Aka Crocodile Rock:
Well done...it must be a huge relief!

The school allocation thing is a nightmare...thankfully I only have to do it one more time!

I kept my oldest son home and taught him myself for half a school year rather than send him to one of the dross schools round here, not that he was ever actually offered ANY place at ANY school by our LEA.


Croc... I was preparing for it come to that. Or keeping him out of school illegally and contacting local paper etc.

There was no way he was going to the ghetto one.
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by FGG Aka Crocodile Rock:
Well done...it must be a huge relief!

The school allocation thing is a nightmare...thankfully I only have to do it one more time!

I kept my oldest son home and taught him myself for half a school year rather than send him to one of the dross schools round here, not that he was ever actually offered ANY place at ANY school by our LEA.


Croc... I was preparing for it come to that. Or keeping him out of school illegally and contacting local paper etc.

There was no way he was going to the ghetto one.


Mine had actually startred at a school before the LEA even contacted me...which is why mine is in the bottom 10 in the country!
Croctacus
I hadn't realised how lucky I had been with my elder child... she'd asked to sit the 11+, and with nothing more than a pack of past papers from the selection committee, got herself into the grammar.

Son did sit it, and his form tutor had expected him to get a place, but the boys grammar school here is something like 9th top school in the country, so I knew it was a slim chance. He didn't get in.... and so the nightmare began.

Was made even harder by daughter getting a 6th form scholarship at the same time my son was getting rejected. We felt guilty celebrating my daughters success, and as their mum it was horrible seeing one getting so many opportunities, and doors getting slammed shut for the other.

Thank you all of you, and to any of you going, or about to go through this hell... I wish you luck. Smiler
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Oooh what a co-incidence, I just got the letter saying my youngest got into our prefered infant school!

Not that its as important like....but its nice to know! Big Grin


Woo Hoo! TIS IMPORTANT!!! it was on the news this morning... the admissions hell is starting to take root at primary school level as well now.

I take it it feeds into a half decent secondary then?
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
..My son will start secondary school next year. We did the rounds of visiting schools earlier this year, and cos apparently there is a choice now, put our top 4 preferred schools on the application form.

These top 4 schools were also the 4 closest schools,, not including the school his primary school feeds into. We didn't put that one, because my son has had two years of bullying, and the child responsible is going to that school and has older siblings there.

Then, earlier this year we got a letter telling us we didn't get ANY of our choices, and allocating us the worst, failing school in our town. It would have been a 3 bus journey, setting off at 6.20am. It has a 30% pass rate at 5 c grade gcses, is in the middle of well known crack and drug dens, had a stabbing over the road last year... and is generally a NO NO.

So we started the appeals process for three of the schools that rejected our application. This entailed us going to 3 x quango panel meetings to hear the school defend its decision, and 3 x quango panel meetings to put our case forward.

I was heading out to one such meeting today.

Just had a call from the council... we did put a sneaky application in last week to a good school in the neighbouring county (with a fab reputation, and one of my son's friends is going there).... and they have just rang to confirm he's got a place.

Am so releived... this was making me feel physically sick... am soooo happy!!!


Am all done up with nowhere to go now though!


congratulatons, had a similar tale, the anxiety it causes..
i could have sent him to a good school, a coach journey away. the down side was after school activities, he would have had to get trains and buses to get home. i also wasn't keen on paying ÂĢ10 per week, including holidays, for the private bus.
luckily, he was accepted into a catholic school with approx 700 pupils, a good ethos and good results.
bozzimacoo
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Oooh what a co-incidence, I just got the letter saying my youngest got into our prefered infant school!

Not that its as important like....but its nice to know! Big Grin


Woo Hoo! TIS IMPORTANT!!! it was on the news this morning... the admissions hell is starting to take root at primary school level as well now.

I take it it feeds into a half decent secondary then?
Gawd no, Brighton is notoriously ****ed up there. Theres no Secondary schools in this part of Brighton....its a total lottery where they end up - they are all a 2 bus journey away too!
MoFo
quote:
Originally posted by bozzimacoo:
luckily, he was accepted into a catholic school with approx 700 pupils, a good ethos and good results.


Oooh we'd considered that too (our local catholic school is very good). I'm not catholic, but hubby is and went to a benedictine boarding school.... we did consider a sudden conversion to catholism (sp, and I can't even say it!).. for my son.
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Gawd no, Brighton is notoriously ****ed up there. Theres no Secondary schools in this part of Brighton....its a total lottery where they end up - they are all a 2 bus journey away too!


I love Brighton! I used to drive there to go to a couple of clubs, and drive all the way back here (north essex) in the same night!
Dirtyprettygirlthing
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by bozzimacoo:
luckily, he was accepted into a catholic school with approx 700 pupils, a good ethos and good results.


Oooh we'd considered that too (our local catholic school is very good). I'm not catholic, but hubby is and went to a benedictine boarding school.... we did consider a sudden conversion to catholism (sp, and I can't even say it!).. for my son.


i'm not-ish (grandmother) it was luck, they just happen to be down on their numbers for that year.. and a couple of other boys on our road go there... and one father happens to be a school gov'nor Big Grin
bozzimacoo
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Gawd no, Brighton is notoriously ****ed up there. Theres no Secondary schools in this part of Brighton....its a total lottery where they end up - they are all a 2 bus journey away too!


I love Brighton! I used to drive there to go to a couple of clubs, and drive all the way back here (north essex) in the same night!
I LOVES IT TOO!! Luckily for me when I have a night out in Brighton I can walk home the same night! Laugh
MoFo
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by Gypsie:
congratulations Clapping im just about to start the fight to get my daughters school changed and im not looking forward to it. Im glad its sorted for you.


This was making me feel sick... hubby's redundancy was NOTHING compared to this school crap. When my boy found out the school he'd been allocated he went pale, started shaking, and then burst into tears and cuddled me (v out of character). Am so relieved.

FWIW... the appeals process is pretty good... its not a hopeless battle... just read read read around the process and criteria.


Fantastic news. Well done for not giving up.
P
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
quote:
Originally posted by weesmurf:
Clapping happy days ditty HugValentine


SCHMURF.....

oh god yes.... when we got the call I went all light headed and giddy with relief.

MrDitty has just gone to meet him from school... he is dying to tell him the news!


i know it's not as bad over here but i was so happy mine got into the school that we wanted and it's not even a grammar Big Grin
weesmurf
that's brilliant ditty well done xxxxx

did the appeal thing meself just before xmas...youngest was already at a secondary school but hated it.....and really wanted to go to the one all her mates were at.....we won the appeal.......and she's a different girl now ....much happier and back to her old self..it really does make a difference.....

i'm chuffed to hear your good news...... Hug
SS

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