School allocations

[magoo]

Magoo, all I can suggest, if you havnt already, is to go through the appeal process. Its a bit daunting, but do your homework, on distance etc.

We went through two appeals last year, eventually getting our 2nd preference. Initally we were 'allocated' a school we definately didnt want our son to go to. None of our preferences. It was the furthest from our home, involved a long bus journey,of which there was only one suitable bus in the morning.

Yet there was 2 designated school buses from the end of our road,going to our preferences.

This town has been truly f**ked by this council, since they closed the old Deason school, what did they change the name to, oh yes...Comart. They spent millions on a social engineering exercise which was never going to work. We are a school short now, which is part of the problem now.

I went to Fawcett, a new school when I went there, quite modern, indoor swimming pool great playing fields etc. They ripped it down for housing.

Yes we've just had our first hearing and the result was unchanged. It's also a school we difinately don't want him going to *coughfalmercough*.

Our main reason for wanting him to go to a certain school is because about 20 months ago his father died and his friends have been superb in supporting him. And none of them have been allocated Falmer.

Hopefully this woman that's asked for Falmer and been allocated the school we want will be helpful and try and get the kids literally swapped around.

 

[Brovion]

Magoo, all I can suggest, if you havnt already, is to go through the appeal process. Its a bit daunting, but do your homework, on distance etc.

We went through two appeals last year, eventually getting our 2nd preference. Initally we were 'allocated' a school we definately didnt want our son to go to. None of our preferences. It was the furthest from our home, involved a long bus journey,of which there was only one suitable bus in the morning.

Yet there was 2 designated school buses from the end of our road,going to our preferences.

This town has been truly f**ked by this council, since they closed the old Deason school, what did they change the name to, oh yes...Comart. They spent millions on a social engineering exercise which was never going to work. We are a school short now, which is part of the problem now.

I went to Fawcett, a new school when I went there, quite modern, indoor swimming pool great playing fields etc. They ripped it down for housing.

We went through the appeals process when our son couldn't get in Balfour Juniors despite having been in Balfour Infants. He got sent to Downs. I can safely say the Appeals process is a complete and total waste of everybody's time and money. They only have it to keep up the farce that you have a 'choice'.

We eventually got him into Balfour by putting him on a 'Waiting List' and then ringing up every time we heard that someone from his Year was leaving Balfour. Eventually one Friday they said he could go - but he had to start that day! So my wife had to shoot down there, drag him out of lessons and take him to Balfour. He started the day as a Downs pupil and ended it as a Balfour one!

When it came time to get him into secondary school we just put Stringer on the application form. I wrote a letter saying he was going to Stringer or he wasn't going anywhere - let someone else get dinged out this time.

 

[Starry]

Hopefully this woman that's asked for Falmer and been allocated the school we want will be helpful and try and get the kids literally swapped around.

That is ridiculous.

 

[Goodfella]

Yes we've just had our first hearing and the result was unchanged. It's also a school we difinately don't want him going to *coughfalmercough*.

Our main reason for wanting him to go to a certain school is because about 20 months ago his father died and his friends have been superb in supporting him. And none of them have been allocated Falmer.

Hopefully this woman that's asked for Falmer and been allocated the school we want will be helpful and try and get the kids literally swapped around.

Good luck Gaz, we had problems with Amber, as they wanted her to go to the same school as her sisters went, even though we had moved 3 miles away, we got it changed in the end.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

can't say I fully understand the ins and outs despite all the Argus publicity, but surely (assuming there are two options, the old way and the new way) whichever they choose, someone is going to be pissed off about it. The council are never going to please everybody.

I deal with a lot of families in Whitehawk, who've had to send their kids to Hove Park for a couple of years now- that's more ridiculous, surely, as it's miles away.

 

[Nobby's Betamax Video]

Sorry to gatecrash this thread, but I've set up a petition on 10 Downing Street as a result of recent schools admissions stuff.

Basically, the council has sold us all short by closing secondary schools over the last couple of decades (Fawcett & COMART) whilst the population is increasing. Hence parents / kids getting mighty peed off with both the old & "new" policies.

Unless the council wake up & build a new local school for central B&H as well as improve overall school performances (only 3 of 8 state,non-faith, secondaries have a "Good" OFSTED rating).

It's gonna get mighty bad once the huge residential sites are built - King Alfred, x2 at Marina, City Point, Circus Street, Preston Barracks, Upper Drive etc etc. Where are these kids going to go?

The council closed COMART 2 years ago (just as it was improving) to save £100K a year. Now they've had to find £1.4M to extend Varndean School. Utter madness!!

B&H could be a great City what with Falmer, Ice Arena, new Brighton Centre etc. But the council need to think about how to meet the needs of current & new residents in terms of education, health & transport when "planning" big residential developments.

Sorry for going on, but I'm Brighton born & bred & am fed up with the council on this issue.



Anyway, if you want to sign the petition, that would be great. You can find it here:-

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/B-Hschools/

Ta lots