Sending love & solidarity

I didn't get my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice!!! I've been allocated a random school I didn't even pick 😞😞

@Sel me too, never even heard of the school which has been named!

Our email came (early) and we also didn’t get our preference 👎🏻

@Sel sameeeeee 😩

I am so sorry sorry to those who didn’t get their first choice (or any choices) Remember you have nothing to lose by appealing BUT also remember that the school you have got may absolutely be the best one for your little person and in 12 months you may wonder what all the fuss was about

I’m so sorry 💔 did you apply for all out of catchment schools or was your catchment school included in your three? As that’ll make a slight difference on how likely you will be to get a place. Can you research other local schools and go on waiting lists for those if there’s somewhere else you’d prefer compared to what you’ve been offered?

@Sarah @Naomi The 3 I applied for were all within my catchment! The stats even show that 24 children who live FURTHER away got accepted. Noo idea what's going on 😩. The school I've been given is 'requires improvement ' by ofsted! 😫 What are you guys going to do?

@Sel the 24 children further away could be sibling priority, ehcp kids, LAC kids (or if they’re faith schools could be that) You would need to prove that the admission criteria wasn’t applied correctly That said requires improvement schools tend to have A LOT of money and resources thrown at them to improve quickly that it may not be an ‘awful’ school!

@Sel All I know is that I’m 1000% not sending her to the school they have given it’s awful. I have been told lots of success stories of friends that have been giving a place last minute on the waiting list but in the meantime I will be starting the process of my nearest private school that we also viewed. So gutting, been deflated all day 😩

@Amy thanks. I actually have no clue how it all works, so that's good to know. My borough offer something called continued interest. (Not sure if all boroughs do) So I've reapplied. Let see what happens x

@Naomi I've been deflated all day too! Hopefully we'll be the ones telling the success stories!!! Hoping it works out for you x

@Sel if you want any help feel free to message me (or even just a rant about the situation!) I assume continued interest is like a waiting list - you can be on as many of these (including schools you maybe didn’t apply for previously) If you do plan to appeal (which it’s always worth a try) remember you’re appealing FOR that school and not against the one you have Fingers crossed for some movement and you get a place at one of your choices before September 🥺 x

@Sel I applied for 2 in my catchment. 1 is literally on our doorstep! I spoke to admissions yesterday and they sent me a list of schools with spaces so I’ve looked at them as I hated the one they gave us. Have asked this morning for the offer to be changed to one of the ones I prefer in that list and to be on the waiting list for the ones I actually want. Its all such a mess!