Can't get a place in a school!

[PinkFizz]

Not sure what to do really.We are due to be moving in December and I have just been told today that there isn't a single place in any school in the new borough in my son's year - out of 40 schools!! Apparently there is a serious lack of spaces in his year. And as I am meant to be signing documents in the next few weeks with the house,I haven't a clue what to do next.Anybody else had this problem,or any suggestions??

[B00]

You can go to appeal I think?

I dont know anything about it, but until (or if ) someone comes up with better ideas I'd be tempted to phone the school you'd like your son to go to and speak to the secretary and ask her if she knows how you go about it.

Good luck fizzy :-)

[ummmm]

I had a problem when my daughters forms got lost in the post!!!! She couldn't get into any decent school. I ended up, after appeals, sending her to ireland. Obviously this was discusssed with her and family. She only lasted three months before she got home sick. So ended up going to a ***** school. Luckily for me though she got on fine and was at the same level as her peers when she started her next school

[meltoadhall]

i'm fairly sure that it is the local education authority's responsibility to provide education for all children living in their area.
have you tried ringing them ? tell them that if they dont provide a place he wont be going to school! and since he has to have schooling ................

[mimififi]

you could move as planned and then reapply. The council have to find you schooling.

Alternatively, you could home educate whilst putting your son's name on the waiting list/appeal list. or you could home educate for this term and reapply after Christmas. Sometimes at a non intake time of year, you are successful. Alternatively again, you could home educate for this year and reapply in a non intake year.

Good luck with what ever you decide, but if you are about to sign documents, then really it is the coucil's responsibility to find you a place

much love to you and I hope it sorts itself soon.

[PinkFizz]

Hi all.As much as I love my son I don't think I'm the ideal person to home educate him -I work from home as well and so I wouldn't be able to offer him the quality he needed,and I don't think I would do a very good job anyway!

I have rang the Borough school admissions twice today,on the hope that the first woman had got it wrong but I was told the same thing.
Just now sure if it is down to the school or the athority as to who decides if they have space for another child or not.

[Le Chat]

This is a disgusting state of affairs!! You need to write to and send copies to your new area's MP, borough council, Local Education Authority, the area's local paper and radio station, This Morning and our elected government at no.10! Just go letter sending mad and make a huge fuss of it. I'm sure something will start to happen then. You really must make a huge hue and cry and do whatever you can until you get some joy and your child gets the place he deserves.Good Luck.

[divegirl]

Hi, this happened to me when I moved. It wasn't so much that there weren't any places in the area, just that my new house backed onto a school playground and I wanted my daughter to go there! Because I applied before I moved I was told I was out of catchment..... I reapplied and got a place within three days. Wait until you move then reapply, if a place is not available immeadiatley....give the little'un an extended Christmas holiday :O} ..... Sometimes places become available after the holidays.... Maybe your local MP could help?

Lisa x

[morbidstorm]

Hi Pink,

I also believe this to be the case - if you apply once you move, you'll be a lot more likely to get your place. Mine was the same circumstance as above - before we moved we were out of the catchment area, but once we moved (to the street next to the school) they couldn't give us a place fast enough!!!

Good luck - I hope you get the place for him.x

[PinkFizz]

Hi everybody.I was told by a friend last night that when I move,she believes I will go to the top of the waiting list,as my son will be a priority over children in that area already in a scholl but wishing to move to a different one,as he will not be in a school at all.Not sure if this is correct though.

[lorraine29]

yes that is true, I am currently facing a similar situation due to move this weekend my 14 yr old has not had a school place since they went back to school in September. I have been trying my best to home school him (and found out it is really hard work.
However I contacted the education dept in the area i am moving to and they said he is a priority case as he isn't on any school roll, but they cannot treat him as a priority until we move into the area, so they are not looking too hard to find him somewhere yet, but as of Monday he will be classed as an urgent case.

Lorraine x