Girl, 11, finally starts comprehensive school after weeks on waiting list

Last month, Caerphilly Observer covered the story of 11-year-old Hollie-Mai Williams, who was denied a place at her chosen comprehensive school and stuck on a waiting list.

Now, more than six weeks later, Hollie-Mai has finally secured her place at St Cenydd, starting her first day on Friday, October 21.

Hollie-Mai lives in Abertridwr, which is within the catchment area for St Cenydd. She also attended Cwmaber Juniors, which is a feeder school for St Cenydd.

But, unlike most of her friends, she was unable to start at the school in September and instead had to be home-schooled.

This meant that while her friends were getting used to new surroundings, Hollie-Mai was missing out and facing uncertainty over whether or not she would be going to the same school as her friends.

Her mother, Hannah Williams, was forced to pull out of a college course she was due to start so she could home-school her daughter.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer in September, Hannah admitted she was late sending the application for a place at St Cenydd, but this was due to the fact her mother was ill in hospital at the time.

But now, Hannah has said it is a “big relief all round” as her daughter finally begins life at St Cenydd.

“She’s absolutely over the moon,” said Hannah. “She hasn’t stopped smiling.

“We had an email last Friday to confirm everything.”

The waiting list Hollie-Mai was placed on was scrapped on October 1, but she was still denied a place at her chosen school. But, after applying again, her place was secured.

After weeks of home-schooling, Hannah said: “She can finally have a proper education now. She’s really happy to be there.”

Despite initially missing out on a place at St Cenydd, Hollie-Mai was offered a place at St Martin’s last month. However, she begged her mother not to send her anywhere other than St Cenydd – the school all her friends had gone to.

School placements are managed by Caerphilly County Borough Council, as opposed to the schools themselves. However, the criteria the council follows is set nationally.

At the time, a council spokesperson said: “The council’s Admissions Policy must be applied consistently. Places are allocated up to the school’s admission number with those in catchment being offered a place first for all on-time applications.

“We are unable to discuss individual cases, however we can outline that we aim to offer parents a place at a preferred school as standard practice, where possible. All children are offered a school place.”

The spokesperson continued: “There is a right to appeal to the Independent Appeals Panel, and the outcome of the appeal hearing is binding upon the school and the local authority.

“Popular and strongly performing schools are very attractive and often receive applications from pupils from outside of catchment which generate a waiting list. When this happens, the council utilises a published oversubscription criteria to manage these waiting lists.”