Secondary School places allocated today [sad]

I am not a member of mumsnet . Do I need to be a member to post? and Frightened.

Tbh I think we all the help we can get.

Still looking at ways to raise some money to go legal. I will take a loan out if I have to.

Hi Gilly so sorry this has happened again. I know it is not any comfort but the crazy system is a direct result of

"A legal ruling in 1989, known as the 'Greenwich Judgement' (yes - Greenwich parents went to the Law Courts to gain legal access to Bexley schools and it became legally binding for the whole country!) , established the right of parents to apply to any school they want regardless of local authority boundaries and be treated on equal terms with the 'locals'"

It is not the LA rules it is a central government law that the LA have to uphold. You know the appeals system, it is the same for secondary.
Golden rules are
not to slag off the school offered or the kids who go to it.
Talk only of the educational / health reasons why your DGD needs to attend local school and how it will not disadvantage kids who are allocated a place there.

It is a crazy system and does disadvantage children who move house into an area where local schools fill up on siblings etc. Make sure DGD is registered on the waiting list ( I am sure she is)

gilly - if you were to go down the solicitor route, you would really have to be very very sure that s/he was experienced in this area of law. You'd need a personal recommendation IMO. You haven't said if you've been on MN yet - I agree with others about how amazingly valuable this would be. Honestly, the threads there about appeals are brilliant and as others have said there are incredibly kind MNers who are legally qualified and willingly give help and guidance. I really do know how awful all this is - it was heartbreaking having my sister and DN crying on the phone and the impact on my dgn. S o grab all the help and support you can from people who are willing to give it and know what they are talking about. I also wouldn't go anywhere near a GP with this - as J said, it could make you dgd feel worse snd it also labels her which isn't necessarily helpful and can be the reverse. It's all just awful but try not to get too distracted by the unfairness ( and yes it is) of the feeder school system. God knows why they are allowed. My dgn was at a school that had been a feeder school when he started and then suddenly wasn't and no one knew why. Save your energy for focussing on what might help - facts, evidence, why the preferred school would be right for her ( apart from the journey issues as well of course). Good luck

Gillybob's DGD has fallen through the cracks in the system simply because her parents moved house and there was no room at the feeder primary for her.

They will have to realise that this is a child and her future they are dealing with, not a statistic.

A lot of solicitors provide the first hour of advice free

nannarose travelling expenses are not automatically paid, nor are taxis provided.
Many LAs & I think gilly's is one, pay expenses only for children whose parents qualify for WFTC at the highest rate.

Have you tried CAB? There are often solicitors available who could give you advice.

gilly did you ever start your own thread on MN? From what I can see there are many practising lawyers on there, some of whom may be able to give you specific guidance.

Although I can't offer any better advice than you've been given,I can't read and run , so Lots of luck Gillybob , Your grandchildren are so lucky to have you .x

Mind you, seeing the GP could make her more anxious and you won't want that euther.

Sorry, I don't, I suppose it depends on how much work is involved
Could her GP help too by writing a letter (undue anxiety, school refusal?)

That's exactly what I ink too Jalima they didn't know what to do with her and nor do they care. To them she is a statistic and by offering her a school however impractical they have fulfilled their legal obligation.

I know I have asked too much of you lovely people already but I wonder does anyone know (roughly) how much it would cost to get proper face to face legal help on this matter?

I meant to say
So you must make sure your appeal has every chance of success

It looks as if they didn't know what to do with her, didn't look at previous history and offered her a place at a random secondary (which no-one would choose to travel miles to get to!).

Someone doing the allocations gave this no thought whatsoever.
Prepare your appeal very carefully indeed and seek further advice if you can; stay calm and rational.
If they apply the sibling rule the others will be sent there too when it is their turn.

Oh dear I didn't explain that very well did I ?

Family moved home just over a year ago. Unable to get children into any of the feeder primaries (there are 4 although one is quite a long way away) went to appeal. Refused therefore granddaughter and her siblings are still attending original primary miles away from home. Although they are often late and cannot take part in any clubs/activities due to very complicated drop off/ pick up arrangements shared by 4 family members. Allocation of secondary school is a puzzle as she has not been allocated the one on her doorstep or either of the 2 the other children from her primary are attending (presumably because she lives out of catchment )

Oh dear oh dear again I think.

So if I have got this right, your DGD moves house. She cannot get into any local feeder school for the secondary on her doorstep even with appeal, so is sent to another "random" primary.
At that primary, most of the children are sent to two other schools, but not your DGD.
Are either of those two schools suitable in any way?

I dont know up to date procedure nowadays. I presume either of those two schools are not suitable/wrong direction for her/you did not write those down as preferred choices in any way?

By the way, we wouldnt want you to write anything on here which might prejudice your appeal.

This does not "fall on me" at all Starlady but my son and daughter in law both work full time. My daughter in law works shifts and they have 3 children. I have always looked after the children 2-3 days a week (depending on shifts) and my DH and I run our own small business so I am better placed to make calls, carry out research and type up documentation. I do not see it as a chore, I see it as a grandma desperately wanting what's best for her grandchild.

I don't think so Ankers as most of the children from existing primary (which is miles away from home but we lost appeal to have her moved closer last year) are going to 2 other schools. I think the offered school is a "wildcard" and was the only one with places that no one else was fighting for,

Yes, I do understand the issue about travelling, and do think it the grounds for appeal (just making a more general point, whilst agreeing with the idiocy of it all)
If it is her allocated school, her travel expenses will be paid, but I definitely think that a detailed itinerary (including the odd 'after school' journey if she might stay for a club or sports event) sent to local councillors would be a way to go.
I also wonder if a member of the family can do that journey a few times over the next few weeks and talk to regular users? They will get a feel for the general set-up, where for instance could the child go if a bus didn't turn up? (Happens often here!) and will all the grist to the mill.
I have friend who appealed on those grounds and got a taxi for her son - a ridiculous waste of rate-payers' money, but better for the child - although they couldn't go to after-school activities, or call at a friend's house or anything outside the allocated journey.

At my last school (11-18) where children came from out of catchment they often, if not always, came by taxi. Certainly up to Y11 which constituted compulsory education. I wonder if that was paid by the LA. Worth investigating? Are your DGD's parents in receipt of any sort of benefits ?( don't answer if you don't want to give away too much, but just wondering)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2868475-Catchment-priority-admissions-areas-and-feeder-schools-legality-and-justification

This thread might be helpful if you havent seen it already?

I too, though I only have limited experience, dont think they are being underhand here. They follow rules. But no harm at all in continuing to ask around about the subject.

I presume your DGD has been allocated the school that she is currently in a feeder school for, so that is partly understandable why they have done that I think. They will not know whether she has made friends there already or not, polus they do need to try and fill that school.

As to why there are a large ampunt of children allowed to be bussed into the school that is nearer you, I have no idea, and that might just be wortht finding out why? Though I am not sure that that is going to be of help to you?

"The crow flies" has been used as measurement by LEAs for decades.

Again, I ask gillybob, why is this falling on you? Where are the parents? Do you have custody?

Oh dear Gilly.

Still thinking of you all. I so understand the 'crap' you are all dealing with 'AGAIN'.

Another sleepless night on the cards. I don't think I can go on like this much longer. and angry and very, very tired.