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Melissa
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Posted: Monday March 6th, 2006 16:49 |
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This Friday we received the letter from the Learning Trust (Hackney) telling us that my son has no secondary school place for september, despite listing 6 different schools on his application form.
My list comprised of Latymer School (he passed the tests, unfortunately 400 applicants and only 180 places, he lost out!), plus 2 other schools, Chingford Mount, and for safe measures, 2 schools in Hackney, my borough. One of the Hackney schools is ACROSS THE ROAD from my house!
My reasoning was that if he didn't get in Latymer or any of the other schools for catchment area reasons, then he SHOULD get into one of the Hackney schools, which were the best 2 of a bad bunch.
Apparently, there were more applicants than spaces at all 6 schools and my son lost out all 6 times. This is what i don't understand...
My son is a high achieveing pupil. Top of his class every year since year 1, captain of the football and basketball teams, he takes advanced maths classes, spanish and french lessons and when taking his 7+ sats he passed at key stage 3 level.
He has NEVER been suspended or got in trouble at school and NEVER had a bad report or a grade lower than c. WHY would he be the only child in his class to not be accepted to a secondary school???
They have given me a list of schools in the surrounding areas which have vacancies but i am loath to send him to these schools. They have low pass rates, a couple of them are known to be failing and one of them in Tottenham has a police car parked outside its gates on a permanent basis.
I can only appeal the schools in my borough, which i have done, just waiting to see what happens, but i feel so usless and helpless. I can't believe i allowed this to happen. I should have been saving for his private school education from the day he was born.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Does anyone have any advice?
Last edited on Friday April 28th, 2006 10:40 by Melissa
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Incognito
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Posted: Monday March 6th, 2006 17:54 |
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Wow!! truly shocking - a sign of the times.
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday March 6th, 2006 18:23 |
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Melissa: I really really feel for you..i really do... I don't think you should give up on the appeals system just yet, I heard that there is greater possiblity that you will be shoe horned into a school if you are on point with your arguments......I think there is an Appeals support group that helps parents during appeals process, I'm going to try and find out the contact and post them here..or you could google it..
Failing that I think you may have to seriously consider moving house,(if that is possible). I used to live in Hackney (Stamford Hill, next door to the second Safeways up the road, if you know the area)...My second eldest went to primary school in the area...these are generally ok, but the problem as you're now finding out is that good Secondary education is bloody hard to get into...which is why i moved...and I know the Schools in neigbouring Haringay are very bad indeed..
As an aside this is why I'm personally quite pissed with Diane Abbot she is a disgrace and worse she sold out her consituents on education.... why Black people voted her back in after what she did with her son will always baffle me....
I really don't think new parents fully realise how serious the situation is. The education systyem has changed into a two tier system, that favours the white middle classes.. Which is why you are completely right any new parents, if they have any sense will start saving from birth for private education..or better still send their children home for schooling..because the options in some london boroughs is non existent..you might just as well send them to Pentoville or Holloway..
The first choice school a very good one btw had 1600 applicants for 192 out of borough places....any child getting into that school would have to have been Einstein..with influential parents...plus my daughter and i attended two entrance exams consequetively on the same day...without a car there is no way we could have made both appointments so you can see right there any parent who work long hours, weekends or does not have their own transport is immediately disadvantage by this system of so called choice...
this is current system is nothing short of disgusting...
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Vezz.
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Posted: Monday March 6th, 2006 20:22 |
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When my daughter was applying for a secondary school place, we were told that because she had high SATS (1:1) schools were loath to take her - apparently they like taking "2" and below children because they find it easier to mould them.
That was 7 years ago.....
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nadisco1
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Posted: Monday March 6th, 2006 22:32 |
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I am sorry for your bad news, as a parent I can only empathise. I am thinking that maybe there is a way for him to get into private school through a scholarship.There is an organisation that I have heard of called ISIS, it stands for independant schools information services. If yu are interested in sending your son to an independant school Check out http://www.isc.co.uk, I understand that some independant schools offer a bursary or scholarship. Only God knows if your son is destined for another school other than those which you applied for. Good luck to your son and well done to him and you for the great job he has done so far!
My boy is only five at the moment and I finish my proffessional education this year. Most of my savings will go towards his education (as well as my student loan ). I pray that I wont have to face the same problems that you have encountered.
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Melissa
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 08:51 |
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Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice.
I have vowed to get my son into one of the two hackney schools by hook or by crook. As you say kunjufu, i have to be on point with my arguments - any suggestions????
It is a sad sign of the times, most of the schools have a criteria that gives kids with special educational needs priority, but what about the bright kids? I called Enfield borough about their vacancies, i figure that any school in enfield would be better than haringey or tower hamlets, but of the ones with vacancies 40% of the pupils have special educational needs, how would this effect my son, being in classes with a high number of special needs kids?
Latymer was a long shot, i was proud of him for studying hard and passing the tests after so many of my friends and family laughed it off, claiming he would need a tutor to do so. But why is there no state school for kids of high ability? After telling him for the past 5 years that he has to work hard to get into a good school, what message does this send him?
One of the Hackney schools is the only school in the borough to have a programme for gifted and talented children and is within my catchment area, so i am aiming for that.
I have been in touch with a few independant schools not to far to from my house but most are full for september now, plus City boys was one of my options, but the entrance test was on the same day as Latymer.
A friend did suggest getting in touch with my MP, but Diane Abbot is a waste gyal, she wouldn't do anything about it anyway. I am tempted to test the waters though.
Thanks again for all you kind words, and if anyone has suggestions please do not hesitate to post.
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Backatya
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 10:10 |
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@ Melissa
So sorry to hear about your unfortunate situation. It's a pity that we couldn't be celebrating good news from both yourself and Kunjufu. Anyway I wish you well with the appeal and if I can come up with any good advice to add to the good advice given by Kunjufu, I will.
Respect
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 12:41 |
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to Contact ACE
By Post:
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE),
1c Aberdeen Studios,
22 Highbury Grove,
London N5 2DQ
By Telephone:
- ACE Office: 020 7704 3370 (M-F 9.30am-5.30pm)
Please note that we cannot give advice on the business number, please call the appropriate adviceline number.
advice:
- General Advice Line: Freephone 0808 800 5793 (M-F 2-5pm)
- Exclusions Information Line: 020 7704 9822 (24hr answer machine) - Free advice pack if your child has been excluded from school.
- Islington Information Line: 020 7704 2776 (24hr answer machine) - Free advice booklets for Islington residents.
By Fax: By Email:
- To comment or make suggestions about this website, please use the feedback form
- Admin/business queries - [url=mailto:enquiries@ace.dialnet.com?subject=ACE Website query]enquiries@ace.dialnet.com
[/url]PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to give advice by email unless you have a disability which prevents you accessing our telephone advice line. Please state that this is why you are requesting email advice. Departments:
for General business enquiries, please ring: 020 7704 3370
- ACE Bulletin: Alison Murdoch, 020 7704 3386
- ACE Membership and Subscriptions: Carol Williams, 020 7704 3373
- Finance and Order Queries: Michael Gainey, 020 7704 3374
- Fundraising: Liz Williams, 020 7704 3372
- Library/Information Officer: Sam Murray, 020 7704 3389
- Policy Officer: Chris Gravell, 020 7704 3384
- Publications: Margaret McGowan, 020 7704 3385
- Step-by-Step: Ann Tinklepaugh, 020 7704 3377 or Kemi Pearce, 020 7704 3378 or Richard Hill, 020 7704 3387
- Training: Ingrid Sutherland, 020 7704 3380 or Jenny Miller, 020 7704 3382
- Training Bookings: Kati Herranen, 020 7704 3375
- Website: Julia Parnaby, 020 7704 3376
If you are having problems downloading a publication you have paid for using the BT ClickandBuy system, please email support@btclickandbuy.com or telephone 0870 240 6195 between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, and 10am to 4pm at weekends and Bank Holidays.
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 12:50 |
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School Admission appeals
If you are unhappy with the school you have been offered, you have the right to:
- Appeal against the refusal to offer you a place to the admission authority of each school you originally applied to
- Be put on waiting list of each school you originally applied to, if the school maintains one.
Telephone Advice
0808 800 5793 (Mon-Fri 2-5pm)
ACE is a small charity and we expect our advice lines to be very busy during March. If you cannot get through to an adviser, please be patient and do keep trying. Lines are often quieter after 3.30pm.
Admissions offers for secondary schools
All parents applying for a secondary school place in their home Local Education Authority for their child to start in September 2006 will receive only one offer, posted on 1 March 2006. A few parents who applied to schools in more than one Local Education Authority may receive more than one offer, posted on the same date.
admissions offers for Primary schools
All LEAs must have a co-ordinated admissions scheme for its own schools for September 2006 admissions. They do not have to have a specific date for posting offers to parents but may well have one, so check their prospectus carefully.
The right of appeal for a place in reception or years 1 and 2 is more limited than the appeal against a refusal for another year of entry.
Your Local Education Authority’s Admissions section should give you information about the local co-ordinated arrangements in your offer letter and in their composite prospectus, copies of which should be available in local primary schools, libraries, Council offices and on their website.
appealing for a school
 Most parents will be able to prepare their own appeals by following the advice in our booklet Appealing for a School which explains the appeals process fully. It covers:
- What the panel will look at?
- If the admission rules have been followed.
- What to do if the rules haven't been followed.
- Seeing if the school can take extra pupils?
- Putting your case together.
- The panel's decision.
- What to do if you lose your appeal.
- Model letters.
- Model case.
The booklet is available in a range of ways:
By Post: send ACE a cheque for £2.10, made payable to 'ACE Limited', to "Appealing For A School", ACE, 1c Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2DQ. Please remember to include your name and address so that we can send the booklet to you!
 Purchase Online: you can buy a copy via our online shop using Paypal or your credit or debit card.
eBay: You can buy a copy from our listing on eBay. Our user name is advice4parents.
[url=http://bt.premium-link.net/$87890$0$/AppealingForASchool.pdf?cb_content_name=Appealing%20For%20A%20School] [/url]Download: You can download a [url=http://bt.premium-link.net/$87890$0$/AppealingForASchool.pdf?cb_content_name=Appealing%20For%20A%20School]PDF version of the booklet[/url] for just £1 using BT ClickandBuy. You can pay with a credit or debit card, or if you are a BT customer the cost can be charged to your phone bill.
You may also find the DfES's Codes of Practice on School Admissions (PDF 252kb) and School Admissions Appeals (PDF 399kb) helpful.
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 12:52 |
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Parents Wanted
The Sunday Times is looking for parents/carers who are unhappy with the school admissions process and/or the school place they have been allocated for their child or that they have not been allocated a school place.
If you are interested in speaking about this, please contact education correspondent Geraldine Hackett on 020 7782 5673 or email: geraldine.hackett
@sunday-times.co.uk
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Melissa
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 13:42 |
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Thanks so much for this k, thanks for going to all this trouble. I have sent off for the booklet and will use the helpline number this evening, this is all very useful, thanks again
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 13:56 |
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| Melissa: no problem...as you can see I was gearing up for war...but I didn't need it in the end..but hopefully it will be helpful to you...good luck
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Rebel Lion 06
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Posted: Tuesday March 7th, 2006 19:24 |
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My mom works for these people;
http://www.clerksassociates.co.uk/
Check them out. They'll help. There are also books on the topic you can find them on Amazon.com.
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Melissa
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Posted: Wednesday March 8th, 2006 11:33 |
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@Sphinx, thanks for the info
UPDATE:
After speaking to the headmistress of my son's primary school it seems that he is the ONLY child in the school to have no place at all, a few of the other parents were given offers to schools they did not apply for and are appealing against them, but in his school this case is unique.
I have her support, she will be writing a statement for my appeal, as will his class teacher and the head of the gifted and talented pupils programme my son is educated according to.
Personally i feel little more at ease now that i've had some sound advice and so much support, im just going to have to be as pig headed and stubborn as my mum says i am about this for my sons sake.
ACE were very helpful, gave lots of advice about how to present my appeal over the phone, also had a lot of knowledge about the schools in my area which was reassuring.
oh well, LETS GET READY TO RUUUUMMMBBBLLLEEE!!!!!!!
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Wednesday March 8th, 2006 11:42 |
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| Melissa: I'm glad ACE were helpful.....I was also really impressed with their knowledge of the schools in my locality and of how to manage the appeals system.....I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you...ok
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Rebel Lion 06
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Posted: Wednesday March 8th, 2006 15:55 |
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Fingers crossed here also.
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Melissa
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Posted: Wednesday March 8th, 2006 17:07 |
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Last edited on Monday June 5th, 2006 16:11 by Melissa
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Tate1
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Posted: Wednesday March 8th, 2006 21:53 |
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| My fingers are crossed for ya too.
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Melissa
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Posted: Wednesday April 5th, 2006 15:46 |
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Hey peeps
Not so much as a letter or a phone call from any of the schools or the learning trust thus far - ridiculous!
I called up and spoke to someone who managed to tell me that my son was on the waiting lists for both schools in my borough.
He's no. 9 for the school nearest to my house and no. 53 on the other one (the one he wants to go to)
They also said that my appeal would not be heard before June the earliest!!!
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Melissa
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Posted: Wednesday April 12th, 2006 16:13 |
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Another Update:
I've received a letter from the learning trust now, just to tell me that they have received my letter and are passing my appeal over to the appeals panel, however this only mentioned ONE school even though i am appealling TWO decisions.
After a phone call i was informed that the other school will be handling their own appeals, wish they'd told me that sooner, I was instructed by them to appeal for all schools in my borough.
The facety lady on the phone (head of appeals and admissions apparently) then had to cheek to tell me that if i had done my research i wouldn't be in this position!!
Her reasoning being that i should not have choosen 6 schools which were all 'over subscribed', i should have at least picked ONE school 'not over subscribed'.
As there are not enough school places to go around anywhere in london anyway it is common knowledge that 'not over subscribed' usually means the school is failing! It seems that the learning trusts opinion is that ANY education is appropriate, just as i suspected!
When i informed her that i indeed had done my research and my fail safe school was the one across the road from the house, the ONLY school my house is in the catchment area for and one i am having to appeal now anyway she had no answer!
I can tell i'm going to have a fight on my hands with the learning trust as they are handling the appeal for the school my son really wants to go to and so far they are full of bullsh** excuses!
I have my shield drawn ready for battle...more updates as and when!! 
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Melissa
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Posted: Monday April 24th, 2006 14:25 |
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 HE GOT A SCHOOL PLACE!!!!!!
Praise the lord!!!!
He was offered a place at one of the schools i didn't even appeal against!!!
THANK GOD i applied early, he got one of only 7 places as he was near the top of the waiting list!
The catch is the school is in West London, at least an hour away and he starts at 8.30am, looks like i'll be moving!!
I'm still going through with the appeals process, as this school was my 4th choice, but at least the panic stage is over!
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday April 24th, 2006 18:44 |
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| GOOD NEWS well done Melissa
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Tuesday April 25th, 2006 17:21 |
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| Melissa..Can you continue to keep us updated on this subject as it develops further thanks..
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Posted: Thursday April 27th, 2006 19:39 |
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| What a hassel having to move home, just to get your child into a decent school. I hope it all goes smoothly. I have been watching this thread with interest as I am currently house-hunting for the main reason to be in a good school catchment area (even though my son is only a few months old) - but from your experience & comments from Kunjufu it seems that even if you are in a catchment area for a good school, you are still not guaranteed a place?? Looking for a good school is new to me; as a new mother; I have been looking on the BBC school league tables website, but can anyone offer more advice about choosing a good school, as I dont think the ofsted reports tell it like it is. thanks
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