Primary School places

One of the problems with school places is that academies and free schools can set up where they like, not according to greatest need. They take money from the council as they are direct grant. With reduced resources the council then have to provide places according to need, but can't afford to build new schools. So they extend the schools they have, but this is getting close to capacity and new schools are urgently needed. You will have to lobby your MP to put pressure on central government to release more money for school places in Surrey as the local authority just can't meet demand. www.surreymirror.co.uk/David-Hodge-conce...48-detail/story.html

You can see more on my website where I have a page about school places. vote-citizen.com/schools/

I Had exactly the same situation myself when my son was that age. I appealed it on the grounds of the finances and travel involved, and won. Go for the appeal.

That is crazy- both the cost and as you point out the extra car.

Fingers crossed that you get in through waitlist.

Update.

Mrs Redder's has been looking into the appeals process, and it looks like we will be unsuccessful from what we are being told. The only way we will be successful is if the criteria by one of the schools wasn't correctly followed, an even if this was the case they wont take a place already given to another child, which is correct. The only way to try and get in is on a waiting list.

Its crazy, and unfortunately where we live in the Angel Road/ Thorkhill area, is a dark spot in relation to location to schools.

Its a lottery, and they say we have a choice but you don't. If you don't get your first choice you are unlikely to get your second or third. My thought is that every child should be told where they are going to school and that should be the nearest to them, whatever the type of school.

What is crazy is we will be provided with a Taxi to take and collect from the school, I worked this out at £18 per trip. My wife will obviously have to travel with our son, so that would be £72 a day, £360 a week. My wife will have to give up work, and its another car on the road, rather than walking to school. Can we have the money to put towards private education? We can walk to Weston Green.

Its all mad, and wont get any better, and secondary education is going to be just as bad in a few years.

Hi Redders - sorry only just read that but that is really poor. Ours is too young right now but school places are a big concern from a lot of people I have spoken too.

I remember a similar story last year where someone living close to Giggs Hill Green was not getting a place in TD and I think it is even worse for secondary.

For parents I think by far and away the biggest 'local' issue is school places. Its not just us but other friends who live elsewhere and just shows a very poor capacity planning all around,

Anyone have any thoughts on how we can take steps to resolve this.

(and redders - best of luck with the appeal)

Anyone else in the same position as our young boy!

We logged on to the primary school applications last night as we hadn't received the notification email, and found out we have been given a school in Stoneleigh, when we live half a mile from our nearest chosen school.

How can you let a 4 year old travel by public transport, on 3 buses, K3, 406, 293 at least an hour an half each way?

Obviously we will be appealing and subsequently challenging the decision.