School selection

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  • blackpanther
    blackpanther Posts: 221
    John, How do you know all this stuff?
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    blackpanther wrote:
    John, How do you know all this stuff?

    I spent a year working in the school admissions and transport department of my LEA. Had to get out after that, terrible job. People were under the impression that I made the rules, and that by shouting at me they could change the decision. I guess they swallow all that "faceless bureaucrat just thinks we're all a number" crap that they read. Truth is, I helped people as much as I could, but sometimes there's not actually that much the person on the other end of the line can do, and to pretend otherwise is giving false hope.

    LEAs tend to have pretty much the same school admissions policies throughout the whole country, based on the Education Act of 1994 (I think it's 1994 anyway), and I don't think that anything's really changed that much since I left, unless you're living in a big city and you have an Akademi of Educashun nearby. Like I keep saying though, best to find out your LEA's policy rather than take my word for it.

    BTW, are the schools that you are appealing for foundation or LEA schools?

    Just to repeat 'cos this is important, don't forget to check out the school transport policy - you don't want any nasty surprises four months down the line in that department!
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    I know it's a bit early, but how are you getting on with this?

    I've thought of something else. When schools are deciding on their intake, they list all of the pupils in priority order. If you could ask where your daughter is on this list, and then compare it to the school's annual intake, you'd get a clearer picture of your chances.
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    Go to an appeal with the assistance of your county councilor, you are more likely to win than if you go it alone. They know their way around the appeals process and know the right people in the LEA to plead you case.

    Anyone can do this.

    Thankfully I don't have kids so school selection isn't a problem for me. Even if I did have kids I would send them private through scholarships and such rather than let them suffer at the hands of the local comprehensive as I did when I was a teenager.
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men
  • nolf
    nolf Posts: 1,287
    Best of luck, I don't have kids but am only 4 years out of the local comp high school, so can understand wanting to be in a good one.
    Best of luck with the appeal, remember to focus your argument based on their rules and regulations. You can only win based on fulfilling their criteria, so get as much help as you can to get your argument to match their criteria.

    Past this, consider attempting to go private, or moving house. In fact pretty much anything.
    "I hold it true, what'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost;
    Than never to have loved at all."

    Alfred Tennyson
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Bear in mind there are some private schools that will offer really really really large scholarships (I know of some that are 95%) for exceptional students. It may be worth looking into this!
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
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  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    blackpanther wrote:
    Westerberg,

    If it was a joke, i admit, i have no sense of humor about this today and i appologise.

    word

    Let's hope your daughter spells better than you do, if she's on the 'gifted and talented' list.

    You don't need perfect language skills to be a genius. My English is far from perfect and that hasn't held me back yet.
    I like bikes...

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