Originally Posted by Nickelson (Post 539931)

The rules apparently was there is no selection criteria.

Originally Posted by Nickelson (Post 539931)

The rules apparently was there is no selection criteria.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 539955)

A promise that never had any real substance simply because a school can only take so many pupils

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 539929)

Howarth rang me earlier and told me that she'd put her lad down for Rhyddings and he got denied too, they have offered him Blakewater.....*******

Originally Posted by panther (Post 539978)

where does howarth live?

Originally Posted by forceten (Post 539988)

However there are a few who had put down St Bedes and have been refused. One little girl lives around the corner from St Bedes and has an older sister there and has still been refused.

Originally Posted by forceten (Post 539988)

One little girl lives around the corner from St Bedes and has an older sister there and has still been refused.

Originally Posted by hedman2003 (Post 540046)

Siblings is usually part of the selection criteria, however if the older sister is currently in year 11 that wouldn't apply

Originally Posted by Lilly (Post 540084)

I was under the impression that having a sibling at school does not matter these days when it comes to secondary schools. It applies at primary schools but not secondaries.

The reason being that at primary school somebody has to take and collect them and parents can't be at two schools at the same time. Once they get to secondary school it is assumed they can make their own way to and from school so it doesn't matter if siblings attend the same one.

The only secondary I have experience of is St Christopher's and this is the way they used to look at it and I assume they still do.

Originally Posted by jackyalex (Post 540090)

Im sorry to hear that you lad didnt get into our lady's shaz


I got my letter from the school telling me that my son got into his 1st choice school, now the only problem is i have to pay for the school bus which i thought was free because we live over 3 miles away from the closest school, but i will soon find out how much its gonna sting me

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 540002)

I thought that was supposed to be one of the more cast iron criteria :confused:

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 540089)

It said on my lads form that having siblings in the school, is taken into account when processing application forms.

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 540092)

i think its only free if on benefits, highest rate of working tax credit or free school meal entitlement.

Originally Posted by jackyalex (Post 540101)

I got the same letter as you then, it says new eligibility for transport to secondary schools - september 2008
tell you what thats peed me off, they aint told me how much its gonna cost for the bus, i will end up taking him myself if its too much

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 540104)

Does the bus go straight threw?? or does he need to change buses?? I would be terrified sending zack all that way......(( but then again, I panic over everything like their still 2 years old)) :o

Originally Posted by Lilly (Post 540084)

I was under the impression that having a sibling at school does not matter these days when it comes to secondary schools. It applies at primary schools but not secondaries.

The reason being that at primary school somebody has to take and collect them and parents can't be at two schools at the same time. Once they get to secondary school it is assumed they can make their own way to and from school so it doesn't matter if siblings attend the same one.

The only secondary I have experience of is St Christopher's and this is the way they used to look at it and I assume they still do.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 540122)

Each schools selection criteria is set out in the handbook. St Christophers criteria does state;

of application and on the date of admission will be admitted ahead of those without a sibling."

Originally Posted by Lilly (Post 540131)

Thanks for that. Parents will still need their form signed by a vicar though, won't they? I don't think they'll admit a child who has a sibling there if the parent no longer attends church.

Originally Posted by Lilly (Post 540097)

At St Christopher's where you live and whether you have siblings in school doesn't matter.

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 540104)

Does the bus go straight threw?? or does he need to change buses?? I would be terrified sending zack all that way......(( but then again, I panic over everything like their still 2 years old)) :o

Originally Posted by Nickelson (Post 540209)

Im sorry but you dont need benefits to apply for a bus pass if you live more than 3 miles away.....Transport for students living in certain areas which are a distance from school is arranged by the Local Education Authority who can be contacted at the Area Education Office (East), the Globe Centre, St. James' Square, Accrington, BB5 ORE,tel: 01254 220716. The same office deals with travel passes. Please note that our jurisdiction extends to students travelling on school transport.

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 540238)

apparently they are sending kids to Blakewater because not many kids have put it down for their first choice

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 540329)

just filled in the appeals form for our ladys, gonna shoot off up there with it after, and if all else fails i can TRY to apply somewhere else

Originally Posted by AccyLass27 (Post 540348)

So if the appeal falls through (obviously hoping it doesn't)
Your left with that decision?
And that's final?
Cos, like you said with Moorhead, about applying there
What if they are full?
It's a bit bad that you really aren't being given the choice

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 540352)

EXACTLY chelle, i know Moorhead ARE full at the moment, but like i was told yesterday, some kids wont accept the school and will be appealing for other schools, i'm just gonna have to fight till i get a good one

Originally Posted by Nickelson (Post 540450)

If you drag your heels and refuse to send your kids, no doubt they will make a place for you.

Originally Posted by Nickelson (Post 540450)

If you drag your heels and refuse to send your kids, no doubt they will make a place for you.

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod (Post 540496)

You won't get help with transport costs either if the school you have got into isn't the most local, my daughter goes to Haslingden High, we live in Accy, we get no help for her bus fares, if she had gone to Hollins she would have got a bus pass. It's my choice that she goes to Hassy and she is happy there, therefore I am happy to pay the bus fare. :)

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 540505)

I can unerstand that lindsay, but I still think you should get help with transport costs, after all by sending your daughter to a school outside Hyndburn, it is in fact allowing another child to go to a local school. I would suggest that if you were a single parent not going out to work and paying your way and living of benefits, no doubt you would get all the help you required. By working and paying your way the powers that be should be more than willing to give you a hand with bus fares for your child

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 540563)

Maybe the school authority selected Blakewater/Shad because the staff are better trained at coping with dysfunctional parents :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 540563)

Maybe the school authority selected Blakewater/Shad because the staff are better trained at coping with dysfunctional parents :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540616)

Without having to read through the thread, did everyones children get to go where they wanted? I never realised that this was such a big thing when I was younger, but I guess I was bound to get into mount carmel with having family who went there.

Anyone disappointed?!

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540616)

Anyone disappointed?!

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540633)

Well you could've all been really happy for all I know :p does this mean I have to read through it all now :p

You know, you can appeal about decisions, you dont just have to settle for the rubbish schools.

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 540663)

lol Michelle, please do read it

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540673)

The good news is that if your children are talented then they will do well regardless of the school,

Originally Posted by katex (Post 540682)

Sorry Blazey ... total trash .. not going into it ... have done before on other threads .. a good school will recognise the talent and build on it; an 'overworked' school will ignore because they are too busy concentrating on the low achievers.

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540702)

:theband:

Well you can think that if you wish but Mount Carmel is near the bottom of the rankings in the local area and I know many people who are doing very well, some are even at Oxford now. Mount Carmel is full of delinquents who are disruptive and a nuisance but people who want to learn will find a way to, I think its too easy to blame it on low achievers.

A good school will focus on both low and high achievers, and in theory 'setting' systems are meant to solve this problem but in reality the low achievers are usually the ones being ignored.

How do you solve the problem of intelligent pupils who are disruptive? I went to college with a lad who was really interested in history and did really well at it but was a complete chav and couldn't settle down and had to be aggressive and disruptive. How do you solve that problem?

Schooling is difficult, and not enough credit goes to the schools that are lower on the league tables, and they just get the rubbish students year after year. At least this way they have a chance at having bright children, and one student who is keen to learn often has a huge effect on an entire class.

Of course, I've only left high school just over 2 years ago so what would I know about the current education system?

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540673)

I now wish I had gone to a decent school but you cant have everything.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 540712)

You did get into a good school. I know I visited a few and put Mount Carmel down as our third choice. I was very impressed with the school compared to other we visited.

I always thought all schools were the same when I was at school as well. I thought mine was naff like most school kids do. I now know it was a very good school and I was lucky to go there. I would have liked by son to go there but felt it was too far to travel. You really need to have a look around at some others and your eyes might just be opened.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 540712)

I always thought all schools were the same when I was at school as well. I thought mine was naff like most school kids do. I now know it was a very good school and I was lucky to go there.

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540718)

I think Hollins came at the bottom but I can't really remember. It was in the Observer a few months ago though.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 540725)

It was in the Observer last week and Hollins came second. As for Mount Carmel being full of delinquents, it has improved in 2 years :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 540741)

and i'm proud to be a kind of ambassador for alternative means of entering a university :) i've been asked to give a tour to prospective students tomorrow because of it, and hopefully they'll enjoy my tour and be more confident about university rather than worry solely on their grades.

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 540743)

Well done Blazey, hope you don't mind but I have just been on the 2BR website and nominated you for young person of the year.

Originally Posted by emamum23 (Post 541130)

you gunna go for it?? gets you a bit of free publicity

Originally Posted by emamum23 (Post 541151)

Just thought it might help your appeal... doubt the ppl who chose what school your child goes to want the bad publicity and you never know.. they might 'find' you a space

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 541192)

Well....Teacher Tom had a thing or 2 to say :D

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy (Post 541204)

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 541209)

where? all i can see is the comment i made

Originally Posted by emamum23 (Post 541214)

Good come back Shaz! lmao

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 541212)

look again :D

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod (Post 541672)

Not wishing to state the obvious here but "choices" means just that, i.e more than one. By putting only one school down, and that one being unlikely, you haven't really helped yourself or your son. It seems obvious that the least subscribed school will be offered to you in this case.

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 541752)

no it wasnt a mistake, i stupidly did do it on purpose


hey we all do stupid things

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 541755)

i sent the appeal form in on Tuesday, hopefully we may hear something by the end of March

Originally Posted by slinky (Post 541760)

good luck x

Originally Posted by flashytart (Post 541742)

Lindsay if you read all this thread then you will see that somewhere right at the beginning i told everyone that i didnt think he would get in because i stupidly only put one choice down