School refusal angers Taunton mum (From Somerset County Gazette)
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School refusal angers Taunton mum
1:10pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in Taunton
By Michael Marsh
Alison Waldron with her daughter Madison
A MOTHER is angry after being told her two daughters cannot attend the same school.
Alison Waldron claims the school board won’t accept her youngest daughter Madison, aged four, into Blackbrook Primary School, where her sister Lakeesha currently goes, because there are no spaces left.
She says she was told she could send Madison to Holway Park Primary School instead but refused because Lakeesha was pulled out of there previously when she failed to settle in.
But, now, Alison has had to “bite the bullet” and send Madison to Holway where she is expected to start last week.
She told the County Gazette: “They told me there were no spaces at her first choice school, so I’d have to send her to Holway and take my older daughter out of Blackbrook if I want to keep them together.
“I’m not going to put her back in a school where she had problems when I’ve already taken her out of there once.
“I’ve just had to bite the bullet and send Madison to Holway, which means they will be separated.”
Alison has also sent a letter to Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne informing him of the situation.
She added: “I had no luck with the school board so I contacted Mr Browne. I’m angry and nothing is made easy.”
There are currently 36 children allocated a place at Blackbrook Primary School and 32 on the waiting list.
A county council spokesman said: “A place was refused as the school was full and the right of appeal was offered.
“Miss Waldron did not arrive for the hearing and, unfortunately, only managed to respond to messages at around 12.30pm but, by then, the appeal panel had gone ahead in her absence and made a decision on her written statement.
“The appeal did not feel Miss Waldron’s reasons for her preference for Blackbrook Primary School were sufficiently strong.”
Comments(10)
prickles
says...
9:16am Sun 9 Sep 12
Mi_Coc
says...
10:13am Sun 9 Sep 12
prickles wrote:Exactly I don't knw why the gazette wasted their time, I know of people in catchment who didn't get blackbrook. Plus it has one reception year and the government limit the size two 30.
If the mum was that bothered why didn't she attend the hearing. Why moan if u can't attend the hearing. Not everyone gets the choice of school they want.
It was always a long shot as the over subscription criteria is clear and out of catchment with sibling is not a guarente. It even says that nt the admissions letter. She could ask for another appeal but they Are generally a waste of time.
As usual you get people complaining when they havent even followed the appeals route.
*Flick*
says...
10:25am Mon 10 Sep 12
Mi_Coc
says...
9:20pm Mon 10 Sep 12
*Flick* wrote:Exactly or given her excuss and arranged a new one. Not just flat not attend. They they decide without you.
I hate when people run crying to the paper about something, rather than actually trying to appeal in the correct manner. If she honestly cared as much as she makes out, she would have attended her appeal. It's as simple as that.
Single mums get the benefits the house now they want out of catchment schools places. That is a downside of social housing it's cheap but you don't always get a choice of area. 333 to rent a brand new three bed whilst private rents are more than double you can't have it all.
Thurza
says...
10:02am Tue 11 Sep 12
Mi_Coc
says...
7:26pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Thurza wrote:I dont agree that the better off can afford to transport their children, there are people who live on benefits that drive their kids from cotford to parkfield 12 miles round trip. Friend of my partners lives on benefits and has a newer car than we do as she gave up work as they were better on benefits got a cheap social house in holway rent.
I agree that children in catchment areas should be given priority as it is usually the better off that can transport their children to out of area schools. I do however know the problems when children of a similar age have go to different schools. Before condemning this lady I would like hear her reason for not attending the hearing.
Thats the real unfairness with our benefits system some struggle whilst others have more than enough.
This girl always wanted blackbrook, she didnt get a place for her daughter intially but took her out of holway when someone left blackbrook part way through the year. Then assumed she would get a place for sibling. I have been on the other side of the fence living in parkfield catchment and not getting a place when I know cotford siblings have! I didnt go the gazette.
What makes me cross is my daughter is nearly 5 and 3 old is doing 3 solid days at preschool and my school aged child is doing 2 hours a week as we got bishop henderson and they are gicing younger children all their time at the expense of older ones. She will not be fulltime in uniform till 27th its a joke. As working parents (or mugs) we are struggling with this stay and play staggered entry.
Bonji
says...
9:37pm Tue 11 Sep 12
The thing that annoys me is that it has been assumed this lady is a single parent living on benefits. Nowhere in the article does it say that!
*Flick*
says...
9:06am Wed 12 Sep 12
Mi_Coc wrote:Please do not tar all single mums with the same brush - I am a young, single mum and I do not 'live off benefits' nor do I live in social housing. I also would not expect my child to get an out of catchment school place.
*Flick* wrote: I hate when people run crying to the paper about something, rather than actually trying to appeal in the correct manner. If she honestly cared as much as she makes out, she would have attended her appeal. It's as simple as that.Exactly or given her excuss and arranged a new one. Not just flat not attend. They they decide without you. Single mums get the benefits the house now they want out of catchment schools places. That is a downside of social housing it's cheap but you don't always get a choice of area. 333 to rent a brand new three bed whilst private rents are more than double you can't have it all.
Mi_Coc
says...
9:36am Wed 12 Sep 12
Bonji wrote:Chances are if she worked she wouldnt have time to cry to the gazette and pose for the photo. People in this country who dont work tend to be the people who moan they are hard done by and not getting their own way.
I think that its totally understandable that Miss Waldron wants her children to go to the same school but its also understandable that people get annoyed that children who are not in the catchment area get into schools that people who live in the catchment area cant get their children into. The thing that annoys me is that it has been assumed this lady is a single parent living on benefits. Nowhere in the article does it say that!
Also she might of be able to move into blackbrook catchment and get out the holway area so her daughters didnt go to a school that is not particulary well thought of and which she clearly doesnt like. Not that, that seems to help much in my experience. Blackbrook needs a second reception year and shut down schools like abc and holway as I havent met anyone who wants them.
Mi_Coc says...
7:42pm Sat 8 Sep 12
She must of known she would struggle moving her child there when she is out of catchment and she didn't get her daughter in the first time. helps if you attend your appeal although 4 out of 5 are unsuccessful.
61% of park fields current intake is for out of catchment. It's a crazy setup.