POD has attended the same nursery since she was a year old. Now in the pre-school class, she’s grown into a bright and sociable child. All the staff know her and she’s built some strong friendships over the past four years too.
We looked forward to the children starting primary school together in September. It was presumed the majority would attend the nearest one which is located just 0.45 miles from our house. We got a great vibe from the school when we visited and we could imagine POD being there. We knew however hard it was for us to see POD off on her first day, she would thrive. And she’d have people she knew to hold her hand – whether she wanted them to or not!
We didn’t think for a second POD wouldn’t get offered a place at the only school we can walk to. But last Thursday we learnt she’d not been accepted. Worse still all her friends had. Although the success rate appears to be very low, we submitted an appeal form that evening. It may prove fruitless but you don’t know unless you try.
The following day was a crash course in the school selection process. It involved asking numerous questions and attempting to glean a few answers. Not to mention continually being asked if POD had any siblings. It was a tough day that ended with two of POD’s friends asking “why isn’t POD going to the same school as us?”. Utterly heartbreaking and a question we don’t yet know the answer to.
The school that’s been selected for POD can only be reached by car, it’s located in one of the busiest parts of Guildford. We’ve not seen it yet but we’re visiting soon – at least we know she has a place. Although POD will no doubt make friends quickly, it’s hard thinking of her going to school and not knowing a soul. It’s so very different to what we imagined and what we, perhaps rather foolishly, presumed.
As it stands today, POD is on the waiting list for the local school. We don’t know whereabouts yet but we can find out from 7th May. We’re looking at other options too just in case. Much can change in the coming weeks so we remain optimistic albeit with a sense of caution.
So now we wait. And hope that someone is on our side and she’ll get to start school with her chums.
Oh the roulette that is school places. This was one of the big reasons we moved from Berkshire. I am a big believer in kids going to their local school. Being able to walk there is such an important part of gaining independence in a safe and controlled way. I am so sorry for you and POD. Here we only have one option (the local school)!
A couple of my friends have been disappointed too, sorry you are having to go through this. Our primary is in walking distance too, we had the opposite though as E went to nursery and pre-school in a different area so knew no-one when she started last September but has since made lots of friends (and been to many parties!) who she sees out of school at times. Even though she knew no-one after a couple of weeks she was making bonds. I hope you do get into the first school, the nearer the better at this age and driving in traffic (where we wanted her to go to) would have been hard (traffic a nightmare here all day!). But if not POD will adapt, I’m only just getting used to the to-ing and fro-ing of taking and picking her up!
That is tough and seems so wrong on every level, not least the environmental impact of having to use a car every day. I hope you win your appeal.
Oh no how disappointing for you. I hope your appeal is successful.
I’ve heard a few people who haven’t got into the school they wanted,
The whole school process and the impact it has on children and families just frustrates me so much. I really struggle to understand how it is all so difficult now compared to how it used to be. Is it just that we need more school places overall? Do other countries have such a mess when it comes to allocations?
I have a good feeling about this one, I’m sure it will come right for you but I’m sure the worry is eating you up right now. Try to relax and just keep the pressure on the appeal process.
We have been in the same position before, about ten years ago. I appealed and wrote the head teacher a lovely letter explaining why their school was perfect for our Daughter. It worked. I don’t know if the letter helped or not but we won our appeal. Good Luck x
My step daughter just succeeded in an appeal to get into the County School for secondary this September. She failed at appeal for Junior to St Eleanors though (after attending Onslow First) and has been at Northmead for the past four years. I’m not sure how she got into Onslow to be honest as its nowhere near her home (although it is near her grandparents). Best wishes for your appeal but as you say, your daughter is sociable and bright and I’m sure she will make new friends wherever she goes. I work in Guildford town though so I know exactly what you’d be up against with the traffic :-/ X
Its been the talk all over the web this weeks about this how some have been disappointed.
Oh what a pain for you, I really hope that you manage to get a place at the school that you can walk to. But if you don’t your daughter will make friends at the other school too. I guess the main thing to do is not communicate any anxiety about the situation to her. Good luck with it all.
Fingers crossed for you – I know here in Sutton there is a LOT of movement before term starts, and a lot of people do get places, so good luck – I hope you get good news soon.
It might be worth calling to find out where you are on the list for your school too?
Oh no, what a disappointment. Being able to walk to school is such a big benefit, and also being with friends who live nearby. I hope you manage to successfully appeal.
I didn’t know stress until I went through something similar to this with my boy Charly. Sounds dramatic but when it’s your child’s education at stake, it becomes very emotional.
I’m not sure if it’s the same where you are, but we were told you never win at appeal for primary because the class sizes are set and cannot be increased unless the authority have made a mistake.
Do you know why you weren’t accepted while others were?
When this happened to us i found out every bit of information I could! Made a nuisance of myself. Someone I know got in because the authority made a mistake in judging the distance from the school to her house. You just never know.
Also find out where you are on the waiting list. As someone else said, people don’t accept places, others move, some applied and didn’t really want the place. You’d be very surprised.
Finally I wish you all the luck in the world. I know exactly what you’re going through my friend x
I’m gutted for you all and will keep everything crossed for a change xx
Oh lovely… I can honestly say I know exactly what you are going through. We are just over 300m from our local school, the school which Ava is currently at nursery at, and didn’t get in. We were utterly gutted, but gradually coming round to the idea. Our little ones are strong and resilient… I think its us that struggle more! Thinking of you so much. Xxx
It is nice when they can start with friends. Our school didn’t have a nursery though so most of the class didn’t know each other. H was lucky enough to start with his best friend and he knew 2 other children from swimming and playgroup. Hope you get your closest. Seems daft to have to get in the car.
So sorry to hear you didn’t get a place. I work in a school and we also had local catchment area children unable to get in. However there is always movement on the list – families move, people choose different schools etc so definitely stay on the continued interest list and try for an appeal (although success may be limited if it’s a council maintained school as it will be bound by strict admission rules). Good luck! Christine
Oh my goodness, so sorry to hear that! I do hope that you win an appeal, especially since the school is not far from where you live. To not get a place in that school is mind-boggling to me! Hope to hear good news about POD soon. xx
it really is a roulette, good luck with the appeal. I have everything crossed for you.
it seems to have been a huge problem this year compared to others luckily we areok in our area
awww my lovely i am crossing everything you get that place in the local school . its so confusing as to what they use to select . i am crossing everything!
Don’t despair, Charly. As your friends say, there’s always some movement after the initial allocations so there’s still a chance POD may get into the school you want. If she doesn’t it will be more of a pain for you but POD is such a sociable soul she will soon find her niche wherever she goes. Bless her!
Gosh, I can’t imagine the amount of emotions you must be going thru; I can only hope that your appeal goes well. There are people in a similar situation linked to our nursery and they’ve found various groups and advice online about how to best appeal. I’m sure you’ve got it covered. Best of luck x
I ma sorry you did not get the chosen school. I hope your appeal gets accepted.
Oh no 🙁 poor POD. I start part time school next year – I’m only two, but where I live we generally get to go to the school of our choice. This seems so alien to mummy, she’d hate it. I hope you sort it out x
We don’t have quite the same system here. I’m sorry you didn’t get into where you wanted & I hope you get a good place for POD. She’ll be a star xx
I really am so sorry that this has happened. I’m keeping everything crossed for you xx
oh thats really pants hope you get in on the appeal. its crazy they give you a school further away!
I really feel for you. Last year we were not offered the school for Mouse that Monkey already attended, it was also a school that her pre-school fed into. The school she was offered was not suitable for various reasons(the main one being to do with my job) so we turned it down. We found out she was number ten on the list, we appealed, but didn’t win. Over the next ten months we were in and out of school like yo-yos, we went up and down the waiting list and eventually after many conversations and some changes we were offered a place in February this year.
I only tell you all this to say there is hope, there were times when we wondered if we had done the right thing but deep down we knew we had. My only advice is to appeal (Appeals are hard but I felt for us it meant we were showing we would fight), to be strong and to follow you heart.
I wish you all the luck and hope for a good outcome! xx
I am so sorry POD didn’t get your first choice school – it is such a nightmare isn’t it. Hopefully she will be accepted from the waiting list but as Tara said, make a nuisance of yourself and hopefully sense will prevail xx
If it makes you feel any better my son wasn’t with any friends when he first began at school but I think it actually helped build his confidence a lot interacting with new children and making new friendships. I hope your appeal is successful however and POD gets to be with her chums x
Charly… I was so sorry to read you found yourselves in the same position as us… and I’m so sorry its taken me so long to respond to your lovely comments and support. I guess this whole thing just takes a while to get your head around, doesn’t it? We live less than 350m from our school… its the one Ava is currently at nursery at, and the whole class got in except her. We were gutted, and like you, totally shocked. I don’t think we’d really considered the possibility she might not get in…
I really, really hope it works out for the best, whatever that is. I know I’m having to recognise that sometimes what I think is best for my girls may turn out not to be, and the worst scenario situation, may actually turn out to be exactly right…
All very confusing, but I really hope you’re successful with your appeal/waiting list place. Keep me posted.xx
… and now I’ve just seen I did already post… and thought I hadn’t. Serious baby brain going on over here… ignore me!
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