For parents with children currently in Year 6, 1st March is a big day, as they will receive confirmation of the secondary school place their child has been allocated.
Known as ‘Offer Day’, parents will receive an email, or letters will be posted, indicating whether they have been offered a place at their first choice school, at one of their other preferences, or if no places are available at any of their top three choices, another school in the local area.
It can be a stressful time, particularly if the first choice is not received. However, there is no need to panic because:
Worcester schools are good
You’ll be hard pushed to find a school in the whole country that is poor. In fact, all secondary schools in Worcester have, like Bishop Perowne, been rated good by Ofsted. This means that the quality of education your child will receive is good and safeguarding is effective.
You can still go and visit the school
If, when deciding which schools to list as your top preferences, you hadn’t visited the school your child has been allocated, now’s the time to contact them and arrange a visit. Reading a report or prospectus is very different to seeing the school for yourself. Learning more about the facilities, the aims of the school and meeting the Headteacher in person can make you feel completely different.
Your child will be made to feel welcome at any school
Moving from primary to secondary school can often be a daunting time. There are a lot of changes to take into consideration and every school fully understands this. Welcoming a new group of Year 7 students is wonderful and we do all we can to ensure every student feels as settled as possible as soon as possible.
It’s just the start of the journey
Whether your child will be attending your first choice secondary school or your third choice, the most important thing to remember is that they are about to start an exciting new period of their life. They will make new friends, learn new things, and start new adventures, no matter what school they attend.
You can appeal
If you are really unhappy, there is an appeals process and you can find out more information on the Worcestershire County Council website. However, there is no guarantee that you will be successful. You can also ask to be put on a waiting list for your first choice school, as things could change and places could become available.
Although you may not want to, you should officially accept the place your child has been offered. You can change your mind, but if you reject the place and then lose an appeal, or do not receive a place through a waiting list, your child could be school-less come September.
We are always happy to show parents our school and chat through any concerns. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
