Secondary School places allocated today [sad]

A word of caution though. In our case the child we did that for was our youngest and not the eldest.

And even back then, criteria kept changing almost year on year.
So even if you were fortunate to get your eldest DGD in, that might in no way guarantee the others when their time came.

Saying she will refuse to go to school is enough to worry them, a relative hated her school so much she played truant and even if taken would run away, LEA had to fork out for private tuition. School refusal is a recognised condition.

My family have been lucky as my DGD heard this evening that she has got her second choice. Her Mum preferred another school but my DGD liked the one she got best. She has a bus ride but not too far.

Gillybob have you thought of the local paper ? And can you use the phrase "it is a safeguarding issue" re child hanging round waiting for a bus. Safeguarding is a bit of a buzz word in the NE . Stress the prospect of school refusal and LEA duty of care. And is there a local older child who goes to the same school and could be given pocket money to keep company with your DGD?

Wouldn't that rather weaken the family's case? (paying another pupil, I mean..)

Hummmm - local paper? This can backfire - misreporting, child is 'outed' and can suffer from this by teasing and bullying, authorities react negatively to being put under pressure. The travel issue seems to be a strong point and if it were my dgc, that's what I'd focus on at appeal. Do the journey with her( or on your own) at the time she would be doing it, record and log time taken, waiting times etc, work out if and when it will be dark at the times she will be travelling. Get the written evidence of the bus time tables. It's irrelevant what anyone thinks of the admission criteria - they are what they are and unless there is evidence that they have not been followed properly, they can play no part in an appeal. As GB knows, the appeal process is tough and most are refused but there's loads of help and advice out there so at least the family can give it the best shot. I think issues of potential school refusal may be a double edged sword - any idea how many appeals happen each year Gb and what the success rate is? When I was helping with my dn's son's appeal I did use an online company that gave some advice - I'll try and remember its name and the costs. In those days I didn't know about MN but if I had, I'd have used them like a shot.

I agree with most of your points Rigby46, except the local paper bit.
Misreporting - I think they would get it accurate enough
Being outed - much better that in my opinion that not getting into the school in the first place
Authorities acting negatively - have you any evidence or know of instances where that has happened?

My GD is 'medium' happy having got 2nd choice. She is just waiting to see if her best friend ,who lives next door, but goes to a different primary, has the same school. Then she would be very happy.
It is such a stressful time for all concerned I really hope gillybobs GD gets a happy solution. Good luck

www.familylives.org.uk/advice/secondary/learning-school/making-an-appeal-for-a-school-place/

www.theguardian.com/money/2007/mar/11/education.schooladmissions

mojomums.co.uk/top-tips-to-win-your-secondary-school-appeal/

If you look online there are lots of sites giving advice about appeals, so really might be worth taking a close look. I have posted 3 above and I know another poster has suggested one too.

It really is worth making sure you know your stuff - I did something similar with a health funding application and we got it because we had thoroughly researched it and had all the facts at out fingertips.

Good luck.

Having siad that one of my DDs had to take two buses to school and she did cope; so if all else fails, don't despair.

I think I would be hesitant about going to the local paper and agree with Rigby that the publicity could result in teasing and/or bullying.

I would definitely go to appeal, investigate how to make the strongest case possible, what is the best aspect to focus on for a positive outcome and to take someone to the appeal with you who is qualified in some way to help you present your case to counteract all the panel's arguments.

If there is a list of children who want to go to that school but failed to get in is it possible to find out where she is on the list - you never know, someone may move away and a place become available.

www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/help-and-advice/choosing-a-school/appealing-for-a-school-place
which says this:
You must accept the place at the school you have been offered, no matter how tempting it is to return the form with ‘Over my dead body’ scrawled on it. You would run the risk of having no place at all in September, and appeal panels will not take kindly to you doing this.
Well, I wouldn't accept it however unkindly an appeals panels took to it.

www.schoolappeals.org.uk/

We have been given conflicting advice Jalima . The LEA say that no-one is obliged to accept a place that they don't want. We will not accept the place as the LEA have been totally unreasonable by making the offer in the first place. We had a huge "evidence" file when we went to appeal for the primary school places but they barely looked at the evidence and even lied about empty classrooms and the use of them. The appeal was cancelled by the LEA (while they altered their evidence which we were not given) I could go on and on. I have challenged the LEA to a face to face meeting but they are very reluctant.

I am happy for those people who''s children and grandchildren have received good news today and can enjoy their last months in primary knowing that they will be going to a secondary school of their choice within a reasonable distance of home.

DDiL telling me that DGD saying there is just no point in working hard for her SAT's and might as well not go to school again. She loves school btw.

Oh dear

I certainly would not accept the place, that is an admission that it is OK even if not what you want, an admission of defeat.

I think if you can it would be worth it to get some good advice even if you have to pay a solicitor in the end.
www.familylives.org.uk/advice/secondary/learning-school/making-an-appeal-for-a-school-place/

We haven't got to that stage yet but the senior school they are building will not take as many pupils as the present one and they are right on the border of the catchment area, which keeps being changed anyway.

What were the reasons given for not giving her a place?
Do you know of children from further away who have been allocated a place?

So sad Gilly.

I mentioned this with my daughter this afternoon as I have spoken about your posts in the past as we were experiencing very similar experiences re obtaining a school place of our choice ( we too got knocked back by the appeal system ), DGD's age (10) etc.

We can't offer any words of help just understanding and genuinely appreciate how utterly devastated your poor little girl must feel , so unfair.

I can't sleep tonight. I am so worried about my little granddaughter. It is her 11th birthday today. She should be so happy .

Why can't I make it right for her? I feel so helpless, angry and sad.

Hope you and your GD are feeling a little better this morning gillybob Things do have a way of working out so don't give up hope.

Just a thought, if all else fails ( which I sincerely hope it doesn't!)
You may be able to find a registered child minder to drive your granddaughter to school. Far from ideal though.. hopefully something can come from an appeal first though.

See section 3:6

Gilly take a look at the section on Transport to School 3:6

We have been given conflicting advice Jalima . The LEA say that no-one is obliged to accept a place that they don't want. We will not accept the place as the LEA have been totally unreasonable by making the offer in the first place

When they say that, unfortunately part of what they mean I think, is that a person can home-school, thereby not accepting a place that they dont want.

I would not accept the place either gillybob.

Can I ask though, how she ended up in a non-feeder school in the first place though?
Why her and not others too, if places in feeder primaries were oversubscribed.

Or are there others in her boat too, in which case, you might have more chance teaming up with others in the same position?

gilly did you go to Mumsnet?

This thread was started a month ago in anticipation of 1 March - if you flip it you'll see yesterday's posts. It's a very long thread and I've only skimmed it but there seems to be three members who are experienced in advising on how to appeal one is called 'tiggytape' can't remember the others.

I'd recommend you put your case on there for advice from those who seem to have a lot of experience.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2845153-Is-it-too-soon-to-start-a-1st-March-secondary-school-allocation-day-support-thread

I was on every website imaginable during the night Riverwalk . Having gone the appeal road before ( primary) there is nothing new. We honestly thought we had an excellent case the last time (especially for the oldest girl) but seems not. I have read and re-read everything and will obviously take it all onboard but honestly there is nothing new.

Thank you again everyone for your kind words of concern. Feeling very tired this morning and just as worried as I was yesterday. Not knowing what will happen is a very scary place to be for a newly 11 year old.

Put it all aside for today Gilly and just concentrate on DCD's 11th birthday.

You can take up the cudgels tomorrow.

Gosh your poor granddaughter. She must be so upset. This school business is all new to me and nothing our family have experienced in recent times. My own senior school was a two bus journey, into and out of Leicester many moons ago. Can remember just how tired I was with all the travelling

I think the advice regarding safeguarding issues and your GD's bus travel are worth pursuing. Also the inevitable tiredness she will face with all t he travel is hardly conducive to good learning. I know it affected my education and I left school with few good results. Interestingly as an adult learner I now have 4 degrees of varying kinds. All self funded as an adult.