Oh - I have just realised that this was probably posted in order to rile up parents like me, and I fell for it!

On the other hand I really feel for all the parents who haven't been allocated any of their choice of school places. It must be frustrating when there are people who don't live locally attending the school. But I do know people who have moved away but then have been unable to get their children into the schools in the area where they have moved to - so its not only a problem for this area.

I just read the article in the paper and wanted to get everyone's thoughts on it. That's all.


Like someone said above if there was a perfect solution then whoever came up with it would be elected PM.



I don't have kids. But listening to that mans conversation on the Overground made me feel really sorry for his situation and it did not sound fair at all.


Jusr because I don't have kids doesn't mean I can't have concern for others.


I just don't buy the sending 2 siblings to different schools thing. If you move far away from your original school, then move your kids to the new school local to you. But nobody wants to do that because it's inconvenient right? Well it's just as inconvenient for the family with one child who have done all the right things and have to go to a school not in their local community.

Sorry for misjudging you, it's just se23.com has a bit of a reputation for controversial posts designed to get people a bit het up (I am thinking back to the 'should kids be allowed in cafes' debate and the infamous 'buggies on buses' argument....)

Of course you can have an opinion! was just surprised you were considering writing to the council.

It does seem unfair for all concerned I do agree. There are a lot of stressed and unhappy parents at the moment hoping to get a place for their children.

Most people I know who have moved away have moved their kids to a different school. The only cases I know where this hasn't happened is when the schools in the new area don't have places, so the parent has no choice but to stay with the school. I think siblings is a small part of the problem, the main issue is a genuine shortage of places, lots of house building, but no new schools being built.

The admissions priority should simply be:

1) local siblings
2) local children
3) other siblings
4) other children

And the government should build more schools and strive to make existing ones as for as possible. If all schools were equal, people wouldn't be playing games to get into catchment areas in the first place...

Yep agree with that mOOKy

In theory that works and it's hard to argue against, however in practical terms of you have 2 children who end up in different schools (this could happen even with not moving if catchment areas change) then how do you get both children to school on time and get to work on time, as well as the reverse collecting them.

Sibling rules causes issue but I think it the better solution that not having it.

maybe if you have 2 children it is ok, yet if you have one that is aged 11 and ready to go to secondary school and does not get in even though they live less than 5 mins away, then someone who live miles awat gets there 2nd child in due to sibling rule - would seem slightly unfair to say the least

By the time they are eleven, they can take themselves to school. Yes, even if it requires public transport. Mine have done a journey involving two buses since that age. The issue is really about younger children where the parents do need to take them to school, and get themselves to work.

I do apologise to all as just realised that this thread is about primary school places not secondary