Got child into 2nd choice school - cnan he go into first choice next year?

highly1111

Hi

So here's the situation:

Our son is starting Junior Infants in September in an educate together school. This is not our first preference. Our first preference is our local catholic national school. However, he did not get into the school. Their enrolment policy is as follows:

1) Siblings
2) Catholic children in the catchment area by age.

The local catholic school offers 66 places. The principal informed me that 40, yes 40, of these were offered straight to siblings. Our son didn't get in even though he is a catholic child in the catchment area due to his DOB - older catholic children in the catchment area got in - and that's fine - that's the enrolment policy. He is currently number 3 on the waiting list.

We have subsequently been offered a place in the ET school which we have accepted. He is more than ready to start school and it is supposed to be a good school. The principal of the catholic school has told me that he would definitely get in next year if we wanted to hold him back. My instinct and the opinion of myself and my husband (I'm also a teacher myself - albeit secondary) but I've spoken to friends who are primary teachers and his Montessori teacher and they all agree he should start school this year.

Now, here is my conundrum - and I will need to check with the school but if any parents had any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

1) If we go ahead and send him to the ET school - what are the chances of getting him into senior infants in our number 1 school? (may be impossible to answer but has anyone done this?)
2) If we cannot get him into senior infants in our number 1 school - could he repeat (not ideal but we'd do it) junior infants and basically start again? I know this means he'd be doing junior infants twice but it would be worth it to get him into this school - however, is the school obligated to offer him a place when he already has a place in another school
3) the religion aspect is quite important to my husband (although not as important being delayed starting school) - would the local catholic school HAVE to take him next year as he is a catholic child in the catchment area? (really the same question as 2 I suppose)

I don't mind moving him school next year or subsequent years for the following reasons - we want him to go to a catholic school, he is the eldest child (1 younger sibling and i'm due again in June) and we want them all to be in the same school for logistical reasons - if he gets in, the following 2 should get in whereas we're not guaranteed at all that numbers 2 and 3 would get into the ET school) and finally it's our local catholic school where his little pals from the estate go and I can walk to the school - I'll have to drive to the ET school.

Sorry for such a long post. I hope my questions make sense. Has anyone else being in this situation and how did things work out?

Thanks in advance.

Gatling

I thought it was illegal to refuse school places based on there been siblings previously enrolled in the school ,
In saying that we had to fight to get our child's place for September after kids from outside Dublin were given places over kids who lived locally

highly1111

Gatling wrote: »

I thought it was illegal to refuse school places based on there been siblings previously enrolled in the school ,
In saying that we had to fight to get our child's place for September after kids from outside Dublin were given places over kids who lived locally

No, I don't believe that that is the case once they adhere to the enrolment policy guidelines issued by the DoE which they do in this case. However, I am open to correction.

byhookorbycrook

No, it's is NOT illegal to offer siblings first places. It makes sense, imagine trying to make drops to a few different schools, never mind passing on uniforms/books etc.

Gatling

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

No, it's is NOT illegal to offer siblings first places. It makes sense, imagine trying to make drops to a few different schools, never mind passing on uniforms/books etc.

Its will be legislated against in the future my mistake,
I understand as I said earlier we had kids from other countries been accepted over local kids 3+ years on a waiting list for a pretty small gaelscoil ,

Moonbeam

If he is 3rd on the waiting list he has a good chance.
We are 13th in a school with 60 places and over 30 siblings and we are not giving up hope.

byhookorbycrook

I don't think it will be legislated against, it makes no sense. I don't agree with kids of past pupils/cash deposits/interviews as criteria,but th sibling rule is helpful to parents.

Paddyo

Hi Highly1111

If you send your son the the ET school, there will be a different process for trying to enroll to the other school as this would then be a transfer.

There will be changes to make sure that the length of time on a waiting list does not ensure a place in a school. There will also be changes so that children of past pupils cannot be given preference.

Paddyo

An Bradán Feasa

highly1111 wrote: »

Hi

So here's the situation:

Our son is starting Junior Infants in September in an educate together school. This is not our first preference. Our first preference is our local catholic national school. However, he did not get into the school. Their enrolment policy is as follows:

1) Siblings
2) Catholic children in the catchment area by age.

The local catholic school offers 66 places. The principal informed me that 40, yes 40, of these were offered straight to siblings. Our son didn't get in even though he is a catholic child in the catchment area due to his DOB - older catholic children in the catchment area got in - and that's fine - that's the enrolment policy. He is currently number 3 on the waiting list.

We have subsequently been offered a place in the ET school which we have accepted. He is more than ready to start school and it is supposed to be a good school. The principal of the catholic school has told me that he would definitely get in next year if we wanted to hold him back. My instinct and the opinion of myself and my husband (I'm also a teacher myself - albeit secondary) but I've spoken to friends who are primary teachers and his Montessori teacher and they all agree he should start school this year.

Now, here is my conundrum - and I will need to check with the school but if any parents had any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

1) If we go ahead and send him to the ET school - what are the chances of getting him into senior infants in our number 1 school? (may be impossible to answer but has anyone done this?)
2) If we cannot get him into senior infants in our number 1 school - could he repeat (not ideal but we'd do it) junior infants and basically start again? I know this means he'd be doing junior infants twice but it would be worth it to get him into this school - however, is the school obligated to offer him a place when he already has a place in another school
3) the religion aspect is quite important to my husband (although not as important being delayed starting school) - would the local catholic school HAVE to take him next year as he is a catholic child in the catchment area? (really the same question as 2 I suppose)

I don't mind moving him school next year or subsequent years for the following reasons - we want him to go to a catholic school, he is the eldest child (1 younger sibling and i'm due again in June) and we want them all to be in the same school for logistical reasons - if he gets in, the following 2 should get in whereas we're not guaranteed at all that numbers 2 and 3 would get into the ET school) and finally it's our local catholic school where his little pals from the estate go and I can walk to the school - I'll have to drive to the ET school.

Sorry for such a long post. I hope my questions make sense. Has anyone else being in this situation and how did things work out?

Thanks in advance.

To answer question number one, I think it would be very unlikely that your child would be admitted into senior infants in the Catholic school, unless of course they had a sudden drop in numbers in that class. Enrolment policies, when worded correctly, allow for certain cut-off points to avoid excessively large classes. I would be of the opinion that the principal would refuse your request.

Question number two is fairly straightforward - it would be an awful idea for your child to repeat Junior Infants UNLESS there were very obvious academic and/or maturity issues. If there were no such issues and your child repeated JI, his self-esteem may suffer as a result. You should also consider that your child will have spent a year getting to know his new class in the ET school, he will have made new friends and will most likely have settled in well. It may not be the best thing for him to remove him from his new friends and routine.

I think your best option is to wait one more year and have your son start JI in September 2014. Legally, children have between the ages of 4 and 6 to start school so there are no worries there!