Secondary School places allocated today [sad]

Will def go down the appeal route but from experience (one of the worst in my life) I think the decision is cut and dry before you enter into appeal and unless you have medical grounds you have little chance of winning.

Its a bad school Riverwalk so definitely not worth the journey/effort. DDiL adamant she is not going there so don't honestly know what we can do? We all work full time.

DDiL works shifts and can only do a weeks school run every 4th week. She can't however be at the primary with the 2 younger children at the same time as dropping the older child at a secondary school miles away. The other 3 weeks are divided between me and DDiL's mum and nana (who does it by bus bless her heart).

Have spoken with MP's secretary who I have met during primary school appeals. He tells me that there is little the MP can do (I already knew that) and if the school is full it is full. My point is that there are children who have got places that live miles away and DGD lives a few yards away and can't get in.

-River I think that's excellent advice. As for trying to get the decision chsnged without going through the appeal process, I can't see how it would work and nor should it. There will be other children in the same position and the idea of a proper formal appeal is to make sure that the system is fair to all the children. There is lots of good avice out there about appealing and IMO that's where it's best to put ones energy.

gilly do you know anything about the far off school ..... could it be worth that long journey?

When I was temporarily living in the far reaches of north London I was surprised to see a number of 11-year old girls on the bus for the hour long journey to The Grey Coat Hospital School in central London (state comprehensive) where the likes of David Cameron & Michael Gove send their daughters.

If the designated school is no good, then maybe you'll have to consider home-schooling; many parents do and not all are graduates, teachers, etc., and it doesn't have to follow 9 - 3 schedule. Better than a long journey to a crap school.

What a shame gillybob but you have all done as much as you can at least.
When starting my new school at aged 11 I had to do a fair bit of walking and catch two buses, so I know what a pain that is, especially in Winter.
Will your DD sometimes be able to drive her to school?

I would ring the highest person you can get at the Ed office and quote that about waiting at the bus stop - I have to admit when you said about the half hour wait between the buses I thought much the same myself- I would go for the jugular with what I said to them about accepting responsibility for her on the journey twice a day - 396 a school year she will be doing! Also do send and email to your MP. Many of them are so good and they do have a bit of clout.
I am worried about her now!

Yes Welshwife he gave me his name and direct number and said he would be happy to be quoted. He made a very good point actually and said "a tiny little girl standing alone at the same bus stop every day for half an hour could be a paedophiles dream"

This may not go down well and I hope I do not offend anyone when I say;

My granddaughter is "normal" (whatever that means) she does not have a medical problem, she is bright. She is neither dyslexic , autistic, asthmatic etc. and doesn't suffer from ADHD or anything else. Therefore can't go down the "health" route.

Yes, she's tiny (by far the smallest in her year group) but not because of any medical reason.

GillyB have you already tried contacting the MP and also County Councillor? What you have now said about her being small - and probably looking younger than her years - makes the whole thing worse. I think the suggestion of trying the doctor could also be a good one. I think I would try someone in the Ed dept with the fact that the bus company tell you the drivers will not be happy with a young child travelling such a long time on her own and how can they guarantee her safety while waiting to change buses.
Would the chap who gave you his name and number be happy for you to quote him - give his name - or even better get him to contact the Ed office and tell them the company's concerns about her travelling now while they have chance to do something about it.
Good luck with it all and do keep us posted especially if you get anywhere with it.

www.mumsnet.com/education/secondary/admission-appeals

This looks good. Could you get the comments about the bus journey in writing from the bus company? The appeals panel will need documentary evidence

Thank you very much Gillybob.

If the system is anywhere what is was about 15 years ago, I think there may be two choices?

1. Appeal. Medical grounds, with a letter from her GP if applicable, can work if there are grounds.

2. See if there is a waiting list for the school you want. There sometimes is, though you may have to wait many months for a place to become available.

How can it be right that children have been offered places that live miles away from the school and those who live on the doorstep cannot get in

Because they chose for the child to go to a primary school elsewhere? So the LEA think, well why not the secondary too?

No apology needed POGS I really appreciate ANY input/help/advice from anyone as we are truly desperate.

Have spoken to bus operator who tell me that the only way she could get to offered school is via 2 buses and a very long journey with her having to leave home at around 7am. He has kindly given me his name and direct number and told me that the operators themselves would not be happy knowing that a (very)small girl would be travelling unaccompanied for such a long time and involving a very long wait in an unsafe area.

How can it be right that children have been offered places that live miles away from the school and those who live on the doorstep cannot get in? the whole education system needs a kick up the pants. The people in the LEA are at best heartless and at worst thick as bricks !

Have spoke to LEA this morning. Quote:

LEA "the child has a right to refuse to go to the school offered"

ME " yes, fine but which school can she go to then?"

LEA "Hmmmmm, hmmmmmmm you could home school her"

Rugby 46

"on a thread where we are sympathising with GB and trying to offer ideas - do you want to derail? "

Nope. I totally sympathise with Gillybob and I hope she understood my post as it a subject that both of us have to deal with.

I apologize Gillybob if my post has been misconstrued.

None of her friends will be going to the offered school at all as its miles away from both home and the existing primary. I have spoken at length to the bus company and there is no direct bus route at all welshwife.

Yes we went through a horrible appeals process for the three grandchildren last year Indiana we lost (as we expected to) as we were told that they would not get into the secondary school unless they came from a feeder or had a sibling at the school.

I am in despair as don't know what to do.

Our GS is waiting anxiously, today.(And us.)
We don't have feeder schools in our area, but luckily all the schools nearby are OK. Just hope he doesn't have to take two buses.

GB I'm sorry your worst fears have been realised. I can only suggest you appeal again and perhaps buy in some expert help?

My GS will find out today too. We are hoping he can go to the school where both his parents teach, as this will ease transport issues for us.

We can only assume her level of education is at least where it should be

POGS as a retired teacher I only stick up for teachers and schools when there's a case to be made. I acknowledge there are some awful schools and some dreadful teachers and HTs.

Your GD's parents should have been informed at Parents' Evenings and via school reports about her progress. Things have been simplified of late into three categories which go something like ...achieving at the expected level for age, achieving beyond expected level and not achieving expected level. This should be stated for at least core subjects and divisions within those core subjects.

Is the school she has been offered, one which the school she currently goes to, feeds in to?

I dont know all the background to this.

My first instinct is, why has she not beeb in a feeder school, if the secondary school is very near you?

gb just popped over - it's on the Secondary education board and the thread is called ( believe it or not) Appeals process - there's already some great info on there. Good luck

POGS. Why post this?

gave up talking about it as there always seemed to be a handful of posters who challenged or were more interested in standing up for teachers than accepting we were experiencing genuine problems

on a thread where we are sympathising with GB and trying to offer ideas - do you want to derail? I remember how awful it all was at the time - I had my DN and sister on the phone in tears frequently and I put hours and hours of work into the appeals ( each school had its own appeal panel). The issue with us was the poor quality of the school but am I right that with you Gb it's the travel?

It might be worth going over to MN as this will be a hot topic from today - there's a good chance there will be useful links and even legal advice from some of their many members.

Try appealing Gillybob. I know someone who appealed twice and got in on the second appeal. Are there any special circumstances at all such as shy, special friendship groups etc you could cite? Good luck

Not a feeder school to the desired school I meant