Secondary School places allocated today [sad]

What a dreadful situation. The whole process nowadays is utterly ludicrous, in your dgd's case it is also dangerous. Unfortunately re transport the LA will only provide if the shortest route is over 3 miles. They will then probably only offer a bus pass. This level of support is not helpful and does not remove the risk element. However - if the LA do provide a bus pass then it could be argued that they are responsible for the safety of your dgd during that journey. For example where children are provided with a taxi, the driver has to have a dbs etc. If you argue from the safety point and press that the LA are at least partly responsible for safety it might help win an appeal. The transport is a nightmare but it's almost not the hardest thing. Your dgd could be socially isolated if her peers live miles away and that's not good either. I feel for all of you and hope a sensible decision is reached

Ask the LA to complete a risk assessment for the bus journeys.

It's very unfair and obviously everything should be done....but she will cope. Many years ago i passed my 11 plus and altho the nearest Grammar School was a couple of miles away it was in another county. Consequently i had to go to one in my county and it was 2 bus rides away plus a half mile walk !! Our little posse of GS pupils trudged miles, waited ages at bus stops and frequently were made to wait at the back of bus queues. It was also a shame that we could never participate in out of school activities.
However we all survived! Are there any other children nearby in the same situation? It must happen all the time.

How far away is the offered school Gilly - I mean in miles?

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Gillybob, please don't give up hope. Having read this thread, I can clearly see that you already have quite a number of positives in your favour.

I was in a similar situation to you, went to appeal and won. Do remember that if you decide to go to appeal again that this time it's for one child only - not three.

This was my situation... my husband, parents and I moved from Scotland to the South Coast of England with 3 sons aged 7, 11 and 14. This was a month before the English summer school break as schools go on holiday a month earlier in Scotland.

During the first month, our sons were having a great time making new friends (this turned out to be important) while we were looking around for suitable schools. To state the obvious, they weren't coming from a feeder school. We found a lovely primary school for our 7 year old and again for our 11 and 14 year old only, the entrance year for the 11 year old was refused as the school was full. He was heartbroken. ALL of his new friends were going to this school and the alternative was 5 miles away and it had a bad reputation. The way you've described how terribly upset your GD is at the moment fits perfectly with how he was. So, the appeals process began.

The date of the hearing was three weeks after the school resumed. During that time, my son was at home watching his friends go off to school in their uniforms. I refused to send him to the other school. I knew if I did that they would never change their minds as he would have been deemed to be 'settled'.

I did a lot of research including contacting the schools to find out what time in the morning each school took responsibility for them when the children were dropped off. That was VERY important. I couldn't drop my youngest off until 8:15 because had it been earlier, the school weren't looking out for him. I did the same with the other 2 schools and, cutting a long story short, I would have to choose which child was going to be 15 minutes late to school every day. It's interesting to note that when I brought that up at the tribunal, the solicitor for the LEA stood up, slammed his file shut and walked out mumbling - no point in me being here now!

When I went on to explain (VERY courteously) how terribly distressed my son was and that he was already saying 'I'm not good enough' I could see a few concerned frowns. I also told them how he was naming friends (who went to the school of choice) and saying they wouldn't want to be his friend any more. I told them that I truly believed that if the refusal was upheld, given that he already suffered from lack of confidence that this would become exacerbated and that his ability to learn would be severely compromised.

You already have good reason for an appeal given the transport situation and you have the benefit of the bus driver's support. That in itself should be enough to grant your little GD entry to the school.

There were other salient points but I don't want to bore you to death. You must feel as though you're in 'information overload' at the moment. If you want any more of my ramblings, just say.

When the interview was over, we were asked to wait outside. As I was leaving I said 'please, please say yes so that I can make a wee boy sitting at home very happy - in a smiley way. We were called in ten minutes later and the chairwoman said 'we are very pleased to say that xxxx has been granted a place and thank you for putting forward a logical and courteous case'. I'm not boasting - I'm just trying to get you in the mood to appeal again gily.

Perhaps some of the above may help / maybe not. One way or the other I really hope you can find a resolution for you all. It's all very harrowing for you.

Would home schooling be an option?

Here we go again

quizqueen as far as I'm aware, gilly lives in an area of the NE where there's very little immigration.

unrestrained immigration and reproduction

Now, you're just goading.

I have not read all of this thread but just wanted to say how sorry I am that you are all so upset . In my case I travelled to school by myself from 5 , my Gran put me on the bus and my cousin met me at the other end , secondary school was also a walk a bus ride and another walk . What I am trying to say is that your DGD will be OK , she will get used to the new school , make friends and cope with the journey . The best thing you could do for her is not make too much of this especially as there may be nothing you can do to change it . Try to be positive about the school , try doing the journey with her before hand . She will be very aware of everyone`s disappointment and am sure this will colour her view of what may be a perfectly good school x

The offered school is approx 4 miles as the crow flies (which is another reason the LEA are a joke) which is how it has been measured Anya. Sadly my DGD is not a "crow" and nor do we have a helicopter. The measurement would take you over several farmers fields, across various hedgerows and a fast flowing stream. The route via road would be around 9 miles but no direct route as it is in another town.

Not an option glynis1234 as parents and grandparents all work full time. Mum works shifts too.

Just digesting your very informative post Juney64 thank you.

quizqueen I hope no one voted conservative , as it's cuts in school budgets, the academy programme and throwing money at unnecessary free schools , that has caused this situation. Stopping local authorities building new schools and giving all to the private sector has also exacerbated the shortage of places. Cuttting school budgets has meant schools have had to reduce their staffing and cannot squeeze any more children in.

Actually correction probably more like 5 miles as the crow flies as I was measuring from the nearest bus stop and not home.

gillybob, in this position I'd pursue any appeals process there is, although they are usually very tight on allowing appeals because they are taking pupils over the capacity of the school.

If she does end up going to the school she's been allocated, are there other local children she could travel with? My sons went to a school that was a couple of bus rides away and met up with others at the bus stop.

Wrong quizqueen it's poor local planning that has caused this problem. I live in a very multi-ethnic and multi-national part of the West Midlands. At the school gate I hear an enormous variety of European languages and Asian language being spoken.

BUT someone in local government had foreseen the need for extra school places (birth rate figures 5 years previously?) and there have been two brand new primary schools built, a third in the offing, three established primaries have gone from 2-stream entry to 3-stream. Both comprehensives have expanded their buildings and provision accordingly.

The local hospital likewise has taken on extra staff (mainly immigrants by the look of it) and added new wards and a cancer unit. My GP surgery is new build. Last year they opened up the second storey to accommodate two newly qualified GPS.

I'm not sure where the money has come from, and I know we are lucky in this respect and possibly atypical. Had I not read about the problems facing other areas or seen it on the news or on GN, I would have been unaware of the problems in the NHS and Education as far as getting appointments and school places. What I am aware of, first hand, is the huge increase in divesity and population around here with houses going up at the rate of knots.

My point is......immigrants are paying their way in taxes (despite the urban myths about handouts and benefits perpetrated by some papers) and the money they pay in taxes, both national and local, should be enough to fund extra public services.

Blame the planners. Blame this government for cuts. But if our town can cope, more than cope, then don't blame immigration.

I feel for you Gillybob I remember the heart inmouth wait I would say don't give up there will be children not take the place up and there will be children move after the first term
The travelling needn't be too terrible my grandkids leave at quarter to 7 each morning and get home about 5 (or later if there's any bus problems) These are town buses not school buses and it was their choice as the high schools are all failing in our area I think the biggest problem is she won't be with any friends that is really really hard and can see how deverstated she will be
My niece hasn't got her nearby school either (in London ) and she will now have to be left in the house to get herself to the bus as mum and dad both leave for work early It's far from ideal for so many children

SCHOOL CHOICE BY AREA

The best areas for getting the top choice secondary school are:

:: Cornwall 98 per cent

:: Central Bedfordshire 97 per cent

:: East Riding 96 per cent

:: Portsmouth 96 per cent

:: Wigan 96 per cent

:: Dorset 96 per cent

:: Wiltshire 96 per cent

:: Shropshire 96 per cent

:: St Helens 96 per cent

:: Derbyshire 95 per cent

Worst areas for getting first choice secondary school 2017:

London

:: Hammersmith and Fulham 53.48 per cent

:: Westminster 56.43 per cent

:: Wandsworth 58.19 per cent

:: City of London 58.82 per cent

:: Kensington and Chelsea 61.05 per cent

UK wide

:: Birmingham 68.6 per cent

:: Oldham 73 per cent

:: Bristol 74 per cent

:: Manchester 75 per cent

:: Sandwell 75 per cent
.

So now you know if you decide to move? One option, that some people who came to live across the road did, is to rent a house near the school of your choice. Of course once in the school you can move back home. That dodge is quite frequent these days.

Another person we know of got their son in to one school because they had no choice, and when a vacancy came up they transferred to the school they really wanted.

My GS did not get in to the school the parents wanted, so they applied and got a place in a school equally as good but in the next county.

GILLYBOB, might I make the suggestion of including the phrase 'Duty of Care' if you take the route of appealing on the basis of her vulnerability on the journey. Good luck.

I agree, nothing like rubbing your nose in it is there? It was like saying 'This is what you could have had'! So cruel.

Another example of how this Government does not put its own people first.

Don't give up! Keep pestering them until they find you a place. The whole thing is stupid when you live so close to the school you want. Good luck!

A reminder to others though to put their preferred place down early before the queue gets too big.

There is still hope you know. My son did not get in to the school of his choice at first because of the quota the school were allowed. He had to go to another school which was ok, but not at all what we wanted. Anyway to cut a long story short, he stayed there a term and a place came up which they offered him and we grabbed it with both hands.

Also, in the case of not getting a place in a Grammar school, which are usually over-subscribed, did you know that a child can apply twice more, once at age 13yrs and again after GCSEs, if they get the grades, they might be lucky and get in to the sixth form. You can get private tuition to help them to get up to speed with the sciences which are taught separately at a Grammar school, but not at a Secondary or Comprehensive school.

You are sooooo right Anya Local authorities have a duty to ensure that when they grant planning permission for large housing estates with family size houses there should be adequate provision for school places.

We are (as yet) not aware of any other children who have been allocated this school so she would be travelling alone PamQS

GillyB my commiserations on this strange rule. I had no idea about the 'feeder' rule. In my ignorance I thought proximity to home was taken into account.

If your DGD has any sort of illness, such as asthma, I'm wondering if this would be grounds for appeal. I used that one many, many years ago for my children's primary school and was successful.

I now understand why so many parents move to homes in certain areas.

I'm sorry I don't have any more constructive advice but wish you "good luck" with this difficult problem.

yorkshiregel what an interesting list of % admissions. Thank goodness we live in Dorset!

Sorry to hear you are in such a worrying situation ....some of these posts have very positive advice ...such as the duty of care item. Just wondering as don't think I saw it mentioned, does your GS have friends at his present school that have been designated the same school as him ? it might be worth setting up a meeting with their parents if so ...to see what can be arranged if an appeal fails. I think you said you had been through the appeals process before so I hope you were given sound reasons as to the failure ...if not, ask.

I would find it very worrying having to send a child of 11 on its own nowadays in dark winter mornings, let alone any other time especially if travelling alone ...will the LEA take into account the psychological effects this might have on the child ? good suggestion to get onto Mums Net etc for more support and ideas ....simply find it unbelievable in this day and age they are prepared to risk the safety of a child travelling alone ! In my case, years ago of course, my friends and I walked along a train line (!) the dockside, through the town for about 4 miles each way (lunch times as well sometimes !) but that was 60 plus years ago !) in later years, my neighbours daughter passed the 11 plus and had to go by train from Chelmsford to Wickford (Southend) in Essex ...she was often so tired at 11 years of age her mum would have a phone call from the staff at Liverpool street to say she had arrived there and not got off to change trains at Shenfield, which then involved my neighbour having to get a train to London to take her back to the proper train ! but things are more dangerous now.

The concept of treating the subject in a positive and polite way does I have found, generally have a better outcome than belligerence (not that you would be I am sure !) where I worked I the NHS things were very difficult, but we had a policy (not told to patients) that if someone was decent and polite without complaining they would get to the top of the queue ......this is not publicised but it does happen !

Wishing you all the very best ! and a happy 11th birthday !

Sorry to hear about your problem,however I can offer some hope,my Granson was not abLe to get in to the School that we wanted (the nearest one,)and was sent to one miles away, we did appeal but was refused however we put him on the waiting list for the School we wanted,we were sixth on the list, but even though he missed the first year he is now happily installed in the School that we wanted, and he soon caught up and is
Able to walk to school with the neighbours children I would reccomd you do the same
And try the waiting list. Good luck. I know how hard it is. I hope this helps
Julie