Getting my daughter into school mid year.
Discussion
I bet the local papers and even the Mail would be interested in this discrimination on the part of the school. Certainly worth a call to your local rag and a chat with one of their reporters. Any conversation should be liberally sprinkled with the GHead's comments that they're only interested in their results, add in questions, "what would you do if it were your child?" and such inflammatory comments as the school aren't interested in children, only their own careers etc
oldbanger said:
I am doing a distance learning course through the National Extension College. I've found them OK, and they cover GCSE courses/exams
https://www.nec.ac.uk/course-categories/gcses-igcs...
Once again, the problem of being halfway through the year looms its head. Will they let her start studying for gce's now, so close to exam time? https://www.nec.ac.uk/course-categories/gcses-igcs...
We are applying at another local school tomorrow and if she is rejected will appeal to that first schools decision, as it is closer to home, but if it all falls apart then home learning it will be. I'm sure she already knows a whole bunch of useful stuff that is standard across the world, but she needs to choose which gce is worth pursuing.
But ideally she needs something to fill her teenage days with other kids her own age, preferably in a school environment.
ColinM50 said:
I bet the local papers and even the Mail would be interested in this discrimination on the part of the school. Certainly worth a call to your local rag and a chat with one of their reporters. Any conversation should be liberally sprinkled with the GHead's comments that they're only interested in their results, add in questions, "what would you do if it were your child?" and such inflammatory comments as the school aren't interested in children, only their own careers etc
I will go down that route if it all falls apart, but I can't really do it until we have applied for this other school, and if rejected, lodged an appeal against the first one. The appeal can take up to nine weeks, so if the school drag their feet about it all then most of the school year will be done by the time everything is settled. That would be the time to throw it to the gutter press."School head refused to let my daughter in, because she was more worried about her own reputation than her pupils" sort of thing.
King Herald said:
How coincidental, I too came back from Singapore in 1970, had to take the 11 plus pretty soon after, but I did manage to pass it and go on to grammar school.
We're in the Midlands, no American schools anywhere near us. Even so, they would be private, and expensive, for a guess.
You are correct, it is definitely the head teacher who is interested only in the overall image of her school. However, that specific sentence she gave us at the end of our meeting: "if she fails it will reflect on me" does not appear in the rejection letter.
Are you by any chance from an RAF Music service family . Dad was at Changi and I went to Seletar Sec .We're in the Midlands, no American schools anywhere near us. Even so, they would be private, and expensive, for a guess.
You are correct, it is definitely the head teacher who is interested only in the overall image of her school. However, that specific sentence she gave us at the end of our meeting: "if she fails it will reflect on me" does not appear in the rejection letter.
King Herald said:
FlyingMeeces said:
Many/most sixth forms use GCSEs as an entry requirement to be allowed to do A levels: as such, trying to sit GCSEs on 5 months learning time rather than the usual 21-ish months really isn't a good idea for someone who, with sufficient time and teaching, will easily be able to get good grades. So probably worth refocusing totally on finding her a Year 10 place somewhere, being just one year older than her classmates won't be a big deal unless someone makes it a big deal (odds are in a big secondary school she won't be the only one, there are a lot of reasons why a kid might end up a year 'behind') and kids mature at very different rates anyway.
She doesn't need to know that the school didn't want her and the individual teachers won't know either, admissions doesn't go anywhere near your standard frontline classroom teacher.
My local authority has an admissions form for all school age children that you fill in with three choices of school for your kid, they do the rest - your LEA probably has something very similar. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500322/secondary...
The schools in our town aren't really that big, and my daughter is already well aware of everything thy is going on, she comes with me to the school each time. She doesn't need to know that the school didn't want her and the individual teachers won't know either, admissions doesn't go anywhere near your standard frontline classroom teacher.
My local authority has an admissions form for all school age children that you fill in with three choices of school for your kid, they do the rest - your LEA probably has something very similar. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500322/secondary...
As mentioned earlier, I already suggested to the school she be allowed to enter a year lower that she would normally be in, but the guy who appears to make the official statements says she is basically too mature to put in that year. Her birthday is July 13' so she would effectively be the oldest in that year, instead of the youngest in her current year.
They basically told us she would be better starting afresh in college, to take GCE's, but that means waiting until September.
We will go to another school today, the one my wife originally wanted, and apply for her to join one year lower. Then we can see what happens.
Just a side note to hopefully help you avoid some confusion: the exams kids typically do at the end of Year 11 (which is the year you normally start the September after your 15th birthday) are called GCSEs, General Certificate of Secondary Education, and GCE is a slightly archaic umbrella term for the whole exam system, but especially used to refer to A levels. It's GCSEs your daughter needs.
Best of luck with it all.
I have asked several times in the local council offices, and checked on line, and the application process for mid year entry involved us giving an application form directly to the school ourselves.
It doesn't appear the local authorities have much at all to do with the process. When I initially told them the school had verbally rejected our application they told me we had to do it on a proper form, and then get an official written refusal, and only then could they do anything. It turns out that 'do anything' was simply to tell us to either appeal, or apply to another school! They never asked to see the written refusal either, I could have made it up.
I'm not sure how I even escalate this, as it appears the above IS the correct process.
When I asked to specifically speak to someone I was given a phone number. They also repeated the above: appeal, or try another school.
I also pointed out to the school that she would,simply be the oldest kid in the class, instead of the youngest, if she stepped back a year, but they were not to be persuaded.
It doesn't appear the local authorities have much at all to do with the process. When I initially told them the school had verbally rejected our application they told me we had to do it on a proper form, and then get an official written refusal, and only then could they do anything. It turns out that 'do anything' was simply to tell us to either appeal, or apply to another school! They never asked to see the written refusal either, I could have made it up.
I'm not sure how I even escalate this, as it appears the above IS the correct process.
When I asked to specifically speak to someone I was given a phone number. They also repeated the above: appeal, or try another school.
I also pointed out to the school that she would,simply be the oldest kid in the class, instead of the youngest, if she stepped back a year, but they were not to be persuaded.
Checked with SWMBO and she says here in Cambridgeshire the Admissions Dept at Cambs County Council are the ONLY people who decide which school a child goes to. I think you said you're in Leicestershire (?) and SWMBO says she can't believe Leicestershire are any different, it's a pretty standard process throughout the UK.
Process here is if someone calls her school they're put straight onto the LEA in Cambridge, the school aren't really involved in the selection process. Contact your LEA and Admissions will send you a form, you put down your three preferences and IF there's space at any of those schools, Admissions will choose which school she goes to, nothing to do with the school itself. Looking at the Leicester website it seems very well set out and helpful. I'm sure you've already been on there. Email for Admissions is admissions@online.leicester.gov.uk and phone is 0116 454 1009 (option 1.
She had one on Friday, a Romanian woman came in asking how to register her daughter for year 6. She was put on to Admissions and the girl will be starting at the school on Monday. The child doesn't speak a word of English. Mum and Dad have been here since October, speak a bit of English and go to classes to learn and are now settled in work and a rented home and daughter's just come over from Romania, grandparents have been looking after her since Oct.
Process here is if someone calls her school they're put straight onto the LEA in Cambridge, the school aren't really involved in the selection process. Contact your LEA and Admissions will send you a form, you put down your three preferences and IF there's space at any of those schools, Admissions will choose which school she goes to, nothing to do with the school itself. Looking at the Leicester website it seems very well set out and helpful. I'm sure you've already been on there. Email for Admissions is admissions@online.leicester.gov.uk and phone is 0116 454 1009 (option 1.
She had one on Friday, a Romanian woman came in asking how to register her daughter for year 6. She was put on to Admissions and the girl will be starting at the school on Monday. The child doesn't speak a word of English. Mum and Dad have been here since October, speak a bit of English and go to classes to learn and are now settled in work and a rented home and daughter's just come over from Romania, grandparents have been looking after her since Oct.
King Herald said:
I have asked several times in the local council offices, and checked on line, and the application process for mid year entry involved us giving an application form directly to the school ourselves.
That seems unusual to me - and to others, based on recent posts.I would have expected you to be asked to complete an iCAF.
ColinM50 said:
Checked with SWMBO and she says here in Cambridgeshire the Admissions Dept at Cambs County Council are the ONLY people who decide which school a child goes to. I think you said you're in Leicestershire (?) and SWMBO says she can't believe Leicestershire are any different, it's a pretty standard process throughout the UK.
It must vary as here in Northants mid year school entrance is directly through the school, if unsuccessful appeal is via the LEA. I've done it with 2 kids (don't ask!!), had to appeal one and thankfully won.Regardless of the process, it's not quick and you have to follow it or nobody will do anything.
ColinM50 said:
Checked with SWMBO and she says here in Cambridgeshire the Admissions Dept at Cambs County Council are the ONLY people who decide which school a child goes to. I think you said you're in Leicestershire (?) and SWMBO says she can't believe Leicestershire are any different, it's a pretty standard process throughout the UK.
Process here is if someone calls her school they're put straight onto the LEA in Cambridge, the school aren't really involved in the selection process. Contact your LEA and Admissions will send you a form, you put down your three preferences and IF there's space at any of those schools, Admissions will choose which school she goes to, nothing to do with the school itself. Looking at the Leicester website it seems very well set out and helpful. I'm sure you've already been on there. Email for Admissions is admissions@online.leicester.gov.uk and phone is 0116 454 1009 (option 1.
She had one on Friday, a Romanian woman came in asking how to register her daughter for year 6. She was put on to Admissions and the girl will be starting at the school on Monday. The child doesn't speak a word of English. Mum and Dad have been here since October, speak a bit of English and go to classes to learn and are now settled in work and a rented home and daughter's just come over from Romania, grandparents have been looking after her since Oct.
That is the normal procedure here in staffordshire if you are merely joining as normal, start of term, give three choices, hand the form in, but joining 'in year' as they call it, it specifies you have to take the form directly to the school of your choice. Process here is if someone calls her school they're put straight onto the LEA in Cambridge, the school aren't really involved in the selection process. Contact your LEA and Admissions will send you a form, you put down your three preferences and IF there's space at any of those schools, Admissions will choose which school she goes to, nothing to do with the school itself. Looking at the Leicester website it seems very well set out and helpful. I'm sure you've already been on there. Email for Admissions is admissions@online.leicester.gov.uk and phone is 0116 454 1009 (option 1.
She had one on Friday, a Romanian woman came in asking how to register her daughter for year 6. She was put on to Admissions and the girl will be starting at the school on Monday. The child doesn't speak a word of English. Mum and Dad have been here since October, speak a bit of English and go to classes to learn and are now settled in work and a rented home and daughter's just come over from Romania, grandparents have been looking after her since Oct.
Iv'e googled LEA with regards to school admissions and nothing comes up under that acronym, it simply leads to gov.com type web sites.,
Countdown said:
OP - is it a Local Authority school or an Academy?
It was a local school for years, then had a brief period as a 'sports academy' then went back to being a normal school, albeit with a different name. I inquired about the changes and was told it was an attempt to get more money out of the government......King Herald said:
Countdown said:
OP - is it a Local Authority school or an Academy?
It was a local school for years, then had a brief period as a 'sports academy' then went back to being a normal school, albeit with a different name. I inquired about the changes and was told it was an attempt to get more money out of the government......If it's still technically an Academy then the LA will have zero control over it's admission policy. If it's transferred back to LA control then the LA will have more say-so but not necessarily the final say-so.
King Herald said:
Once again, the problem of being halfway through the year looms its head. Will they let her start studying for gce's now, so close to exam time?
We are applying at another local school tomorrow and if she is rejected will appeal to that first schools decision, as it is closer to home, but if it all falls apart then home learning it will be. I'm sure she already knows a whole bunch of useful stuff that is standard across the world, but she needs to choose which gce is worth pursuing.
But ideally she needs something to fill her teenage days with other kids her own age, preferably in a school environment.
You can sign up and start the course any time, as you do it in your own time with individual tutor support. It's up to you to apply to sit the exams direct, when ready. It looks like the closing date for applying to sit the exams next summer is the start of February, though, so you haven't much time. The net batch of exams would be November.We are applying at another local school tomorrow and if she is rejected will appeal to that first schools decision, as it is closer to home, but if it all falls apart then home learning it will be. I'm sure she already knows a whole bunch of useful stuff that is standard across the world, but she needs to choose which gce is worth pursuing.
But ideally she needs something to fill her teenage days with other kids her own age, preferably in a school environment.
ColinM50 said:
She had one on Friday, a Romanian woman came in asking how to register her daughter for year 6. She was put on to Admissions and the girl will be starting at the school on Monday. The child doesn't speak a word of English. Mum and Dad have been here since October, speak a bit of English and go to classes to learn and are now settled in work and a rented home and daughter's just come over from Romania, grandparents have been looking after her since Oct.
You have to feel for schools in this situation. A league table mentality and they get handed a child that doesn't speak English, who is probably still in shock from the change in circumstances and yet they will be held to the same measures of success.Shame that schools can't exclude mid-year joiners from stats, or can they?
Vaud said:
You have to feel for schools in this situation. A league table mentality and they get handed a child that doesn't speak English, who is probably still in shock from the change in circumstances and yet they will be held to the same measures of success.
Shame that schools can't exclude mid-year joiners from stats, or can they?
Errrr....Shame that schools can't exclude mid-year joiners from stats, or can they?
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