Secret Mum Club with Sophiena - Back To School Applications

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

From catchment areas to sibling rules, school applications are no joke. This week, Emma and Soph unpack the chaos of applying for primary and secondary schools, including house moves, catchment confusion, and what really matters on the application. Plus, your back-to-school tips on uniform shopping, Mufti Day money, and why a playdate might just be the secret weapon every mum needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-episode Hulu original limited series that blends gripping pacing with emotional complexity, offering a dramatized look as it revisits the wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox for the tragic murder of Meredith Kircher and the relentless media storm that followed. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming only on Disney Plus. Thank you for your patience. Your call is important. Can't take being on hold anymore. FIS is 100% online, so you can make the switch in minutes.

Mobile plans start at $15 a month. Certain conditions apply. Details at FIS.ca. Hello. Hello. This is the secret mom club. I'm Saphina. And I'm Emma.

And this is another of our Back to School special Thursday episodes. Every week this August, we're diving into a different part of the back. to school chaos. So we can all feel a little more prepared. Right. Shall we crack on? All right. What are we talking about today, Sof? Today we're talking to school applications. Talk to me. Listen, I'm no, I'm no, um, expert. Oh, great. I was going to say, I'm no experienced. What? I'm, I'm no expert on this. Obviously, I feel like I'm, I should be, maybe, because we've been through preschool. Yeah. We've been through primary. with Colby he's now in juniors and obviously we have we have actually done a transfer as well because

we moved Colby from one school to another school so we've gone from two different areas but this is something like when you're in your last year of preschool obviously school preschools really well our preschool anyway they arrange everything so they basically you would see you and visit your schools when it's your time to do so which is normally around November time I didn't even think about school visits I was just thinking I would just apply but obviously you need to go and see them

you would check the school websites there is open days for the school so that you can go and see school visit school and do all of that when it's your first when it's your first one and you're picking them and then once you put your application in which is November so school applications for us

I don't know if it's the same across the board but hours are November November to January I thought they were November to January January is the like the latest but I always say November yeah so that I don't forget does it matter like the early you get them in the better or is it just as long as you do it in that period I don't know it's not like first come first serve in my head I tell myself that I'm like well get it in get it early you might be one of

those that gets a place yeah but also as well when the when you're applying for the schools it gets like I think it gets like ranked obviously catchment area is one of them obviously children with additional needs and so for siblings limbs in the school. So there's a lot of factors that they take into consideration. So there is like a protocol to go through. But obviously when we visited Colby's first school and we chose and then we put our application in with our three, we got three options when we put our application in to your first, second and third option as to what you would like. Obviously first is your one that you want the most. Yeah. And then and so forth. So that is around November time. I'm

obviously having a slight dagger in the heart at the moment because we're obviously going back to school in September but September next year when Colby goes back you'll be doing your applications I'm going to apply for secondary school I don't know how I feel

about it and have you see you've got three that you could apply to no I think well we have got three secondary schools that we like but again based on catchment it's based on whether or not we're going to get in and obviously Dotty will follow suit

because once there is a sibling in the school then it's a priority, I might be getting that wrong but I think when there's a sibling in school you're basically guaranteed the space then. I thought that but when it was primary school applications like last time round I remember I think it was the comedian Ramesh Ranganatham and he went on Instagram complaining about the fact that

his one of his youngest kid hadn't got into the same school as the oldest one and I was like that just makes no sense because now you've got to do two different school drop-offs. Everything is going to be different. The inset days are going to be different. The holidays might be different. Like it just makes no sense. Again, I don't know because I'm not in it. But also when I was little, like me and my sisters just all went to the same primary school and we all went to the same secondary school and there was never any question about what was going to happen. It was just that was just it. And now I feel like there's so many possibilities and like

variables and things up in the air. It must just be like the most stressful time finding out whether you've got into your school or not. Whether you've got your school place. Because a lot depends on it, like where you buy your house. Because now I'm basically going to go through it now, aren't I? Because now this November, I have to apply for Dottie's junior place. Which is in Colby's school. And if she doesn't get into that school, I then potentially will have two children.

And you'll be doing Rennie's primary school? No. Renny doesn't start until he's three, does he? Sorry, yeah, I was thinking that Renley was Joseph's safe. I've got him on the waiting list. for, is he going to do preschool? He's going to do preschool, yeah, 100%. I'm ageing him, he's only one and a half.

Yeah, same as your daughter. He is, 100%. I loved preschool for both of Colby and Dottie. I found it phenomenal for the pair of them. So he will be put on the waiting list ready for that preschool. So yeah, I've got to apply for juniors this year for Dottie. And then secondary school for Colby next year. And then Rennley's primary in a couple of years.

Oh my goodness Oh my Christ I'm not ready for her I'm not ready So yeah I've got the worry As if she doesn't get into the school Yeah

Yeah If she doesn't get into the same one No And we're moving to Wales Like with a couple of primary schools In mind So if we don't get those You'll be able to visit those

We'll be able to visit those We will But if we don't We're literally buying a house Based on schools So like if we don't get those schools You're screwed We're screwed

Yeah What are we going to do So what are you going to do Be in the house No not before you apply Because you've got to apply This November For JoJo to go

This is why we need to move, like now, because by January at the latest, we need to have applied for a primary school for Joseph. Got you. So we are under time pressure? So are you, what is the priority to go to Wales and visit schools? We've got to go visit school. Well, first thing's first. Find a house to buy. Of course.

Second thing, visit schools. Third thing, do the applications and just hope that we get one that's nearby. Do you know schools that you like? Yeah. We've got like a couple in mind. So you know what perimeter to look for a house in? Yeah, but it's mad because not only are we doing primary school applications now, but thinking further ahead down the line we've got to pick a primary school that feeds into a secondary school that we like so it's not

just like you can't just pick whatever you want willy-nilly there's a whole system and then like we're looking on the border line this might be really boring but we're looking at houses on both sides of the border between cardiff council and vale of glomorgon council so do they work differently if you live in the vale of glomorgon can you go to a school in cardiff if you live in cardiff can you go to a school in the vale of glomorgon i don't know i need to find out how this all works so it's very complicated and it's going to be so stressful. There's a lot up in the air. It is a stressful time. But it's definitely worth visiting your schools, making sure your whole heart is in it. And even if you have to do a second visit, it's like view in a house.

Yeah. I definitely recommend seeing and visit them, even if it's not. So I saw schools that I wasn't maybe too keen on because I felt like I needed to say yes or no. Like I just would be like, oh, no, not, I know some child that went there and I'm not, you know, not too keen on the school. I definitely wanted to rule it out so I was even visiting schools that I maybe wasn't even in the running you know just to make sure that I had

my heart was in the right place as to what Because it's a big decision they're going to be there for 10 years Yeah nearly You know it's a lot So yeah Anyone that's been through it

We'd love to hear your experience Yeah share your experiences with us I'm obviously I was going to say I'm not knee deep I am definitely knee deep in it You're going to have looking back You're going to have three kids in school soon Well I don't want to wish Little Renness

No, no, that's sorry. When it's time away, blesses are. He's not going to go to leave. Will he be five or will they be four when they go to school? Four. There'll be four and a half. Oh, yeah. It's a dinky one.

It's nice to be in the middle of the year though and not be like super young because Colbes would have gone when he was just four. Yeah, just turned four. Yeah. And then he turned four on the 7th of August and then it started school on the 8th of September. So was he fine with it? Oh, like, it's so fine. Oh, was it?

It was COVID as well. So he went and they bubbled and we all had to queue outside. It was like a whole different process to what I'd experience with my sister and her children. Yeah. It was really, really peculiar. Yeah. And I was just like this is everyone was queuing like on the pavement with a, what was the gap? Like socially distance and the masks on.

Oh my God. What a weird experience. It was weird. And like they didn't get to go out on the playground and play and they had to eat lunch in the classroom. Yeah. So it was a wild year, his first year at school. Those COVID babies. It's so mad, isn't it?

I know. But I always, I feel sorry for the little ones because I think starting school, like we with July birthdays and I remember starting school I was four as well and I really struggled to adjust because I just think four year is still really small and I think the difference between a four year old and a five year old is massive massive

so like Dotty obviously would have started when she was five and I just think like did you think there was a massive difference in a huge a huge huge difference Dotty was dotty outgrew preschool like she could have done we're going to school a year early because she was just

she was far too yeah far too mentally like over it she needed more more stability yeah more harder things to to entertainer or keep her more challenged yeah bit more challenging but yeah we've done well with the march babies then yes they're going to be a good age the school applications are between November and January yeah so keep an eye out for those yeah visit your schools yeah get them in early doors I say yeah I need to do that get them in early door your situation is a little different yeah a little bit different rest of us. Right, we've got some of your messages about the back to school madness. What have you got for me, Emma? All right. This one comes from Donna in Milton Keynes. She says, hi ladies,

my biggest tip for buying school uniform is to put five pounds a week per child into a pot. I've got two, they're 10 and 13. And by the summer holidays, it really adds up. I take them out during the holidays, one at a time to buy everything they need. It usually involves a cheeky McDonald's for lunch too. There's often enough money left over to give them a bit of spending money for the summer, whether that's for an ice cream when the van comes round or for the arcade on a beach trip love the podcast thank you for making me feel like i'm not alone in this wild ride called motherhood oh good tip donna thank you so much that is a great tip and we also really do love the tip of taking them one at a time yeah i think it's such an overwhelming thing the whole

school process like now dotty the other day was like we're in week three now which means we're halfway through and she was like i don't want to go back in three weeks and i'm just like i don't want you to go back either but it's hard it's a hard it's a hard wouldn't it to be fair Colby's exactly the same I think we've had such a really wonderful summer like with moving house we've had birthday parties

we've had family days out yeah we've been down to Portland's Park the weather's been beautiful we've had so much family time and all the little things like barbecues in the gardens and the late night dinners and the pyjama sleepover you know we've done so much already

yeah that's nothing crazy but it's definitely the memories that they're going to cherish forever And it is hard. It's hard to take that away from them to then be like, oh, sorry, now you're back into school again. Like, I feel awful. Like, I feel terrible.

And I think when they go to school, they're like, what are you going to do today? And I think in their little heads, they're like, oh, you're going to have a pizza without us. You're going to have fun without us. Not as much fun without you, my guys. I know. I feel the same when Joseph has to go to nursery,

he's like, and what are you doing? I'm like, well, I don't just send you to nursery for loles. I've got to go to work. Yeah. So I think taking them out, individually is really good because it's you don't want it to be a rushed process you want it to be fun and exciting

nice to give them that little bit of like time definitely with the McDonald's treats right yes agreed so Donna you're smashing it my girl go you all right Amy has asked do you need to buy new school bags each year what do you think honestly never unless the holes are there's holes in the bottom

of the bag or the straps are falling off I just don't do it I don't see I don't see the point of it I did find though when Colby went from infant school to junior school we did buy a new bag because he had a book bag sorry in infant school and then when he went over to junior school he wanted a bit more of a back pack backpack he wanted a big boy bag and that bag has been good for three years we've had the same bag he had it year three year four and he's just said year five you're not bothered mom I'm happy to have the same bag oh that's good so no again they're so expensive and if you're buying like a you know

all babies want smuggles. Everybody wants a smiggle rucksack. And then things, you need a new fucking mortgage. What are we talking for a backpack? 20 quid. What from smuggles? You're looking between 40 and 60 pounds. You're joking.

No, I'm not joking. And now, Dottie is in infant school, but in year two, they're allowed to take a rucksack to prepare them ready for juniors. So I said, you need to pick wisely because that's your bag now until year six. So if you've got Dora the Explorer on there, you've got that to you. And you're 15 and you're still to. taking that to school. Well, it's what you chose when you were 10. So we tried to just go very neutral. Cobby just has a little black rucksack. Um, with no, no, he's got no designs or anything

on it. It's just a sports rucksack right from JD. Yeah. Um, that is, they're, they're expensive. They are expensive bags. So I said to Dotty, you know, if we go for something that's like, just maybe multi-coloured, rather than having a picture on it. Because she can love Frozen and then she moves on to Ariel. She's going to grow out of it. Yeah. She grows out of it. So we try to with really neutral equipment, pretty neutral bags, lunchboxes, so then they kind of, you can get a good wear out of them. But no, I'm not. But that's not for everybody.

I know there's a lot of mummies that love to buy a new bag and you've got to do what suits you, but I just think the cost of them. And if they're still great, if it's not broke, don't fix it. You know? Especially if you're buying it for two or three kids. It's a lot of money, isn't it?

It is a lot of money. Yeah, I'll be putting Colby's in a box for renners when he goes. Yeah. Really get the money as well. Yeah. Right, we'll be back with more of your messages after the break. Looking for a community that has it all, welcome to Crossings, the Urban Hub of West Lethbridge.

At Crossings, you'll find a vibrant village designed for living, working and connecting. With top-notch schools, a state-of-the-art rec center, retail spaces and parks, it's more than a neighborhood, it's a lifestyle. Enjoy NHL-sized arenas and aquatic center and accessible playground, a 55-acre sports park, pathways, and a library with enriching programs. Learn more at crossingslethbridge.ca. Thank you for your patience.

Your call is important. Can't take being on hold anymore? FIS is 100% online so you can make the switch in minutes. Mobile plans start at $15 a month. Certain conditions apply. Details at FIS.C. Hello. It's aspiring national travel.

Treasures, Danny Beard and DJ Billy Andrew here from The Gossip Gaze, an award-winning podcast helping you laugh through queer life. High energy, high glam, big, bold and bathed in glitter. It's Manchester Pride's brand new Mardi Gras event. Expect world-class artists, iconic drag royalty, DJs, cabaret and performances. And I'm performing at Mardi Gras on the Saturday. And the Gay Village on the Sunday. And the Gossip Gays are, of course, part of the parade too.

It's 23rd to the 24th of August. So head to manchesterpride.com slash tickets to get yours and listen to all our coverage ad free on Amazon Music. Welcome back. Let's dive in to your messages. Okay, we've got a tip here from Paige. She says, hey ladies, I always have £10 worth of pound coins around the house at all times because there's always a mufty day or a charity fundraiser going on. Always.

I don't know what, I don't think I know what a mufty day is. Non-school uniform day, I believe. Is it? It's called it a mufty day in some parts of the country. Oh, I didn't know that. Well, there you go. You learn something every day. Also, this would be a great as well, Paige, for when the tooth fairy...

Yes. Comes. When the tooth fairy comes around. Obviously, trigger warning because, obviously, if you've got little people around here listening to this, the tooth fairy brings our own pound going. But that is great. Great tip. For when you need that.

Or a supermarket trolley. 50 pit. Yeah. for the bloody trolley coin. 50p. It's non-uniform day, bring 50p. Oh, it has 50Ps now. Sorry, have schools not got car machines?

Again, inflammation. Inflammation now. School want two pounds on dressed down day. Schools haven't got to tap. Can't tap your contact list? No. Oh my God. Got to give cash.

I'm never going to have change on me. Then you got to be ready as well, Paige. Page, this is such a wonderful idea. It's then when you go into the summertime and the ice cream ampils outside the school and you're like, well, I just go. Inflammation, you need about 13. To be fair, ice cream man's contactless now, isn't he?

Yeah, I was going to say, even buskers have gone contactless. Come on, guys. They have. It's 20-25. It's quite a good excuse when Joseph wants something. Like, he always wants to ride the noddy car at the supermarket. Yeah. Contactless now, though.

I don't have to. Oh. You can tap them. Shit. I'm always like, I haven't got change. I haven't got coins. He's going to clock on to that soon and go, tap that card. I know.

Woman, let me ride this car. Do you know what? He does know that as well, because it's funny. Like, when you play shops or tills or anything with them now, he doesn't hold his hand out for. for coins he he puts something like his hand up for me to go beep with my phone oh dotty does the card reader yeah tap just tap there it's like when they answer the phone now and they go yeah hello they don't go they don't do the phone they don't do telephone no no no funny but that is brilliant

page thank you so much good tip all right one last message here it says hey ladies my three babies are all grown up now but i have a story to share about school applications oh wonderful my youngest daughter had her heart set on a secondary school right on the edge of our catchment area it was a popular a choice because it was high up in the rankings but after the first round of applications she didn't get in we appealed the decision and managed to get a secondary interview with the school love that my husband went along and from the get go he flipped the script instead of answering why she'd be a good fit for the school he asked why the school would be a good fit for her like a proper salesman it completely caught the head teacher off guard and guess what she got her place at that school so my tip is never give up

even if they say no there's always the appeal process and go in armed love the pod amy and Dudley. That is phenomenal, Amy. Wow. What a man, what a man. Oh my God. He just totally Darren Browned them and was like, you need us. Yeah. Or why do we need you? You want me. You need me. You can't. Did he reverse psychology then? You did. Wow. That's phenomenal though. I love that. Yeah. Going in. No, actually, it's not about whether she's a good fit for you. It's whether or not you're good fit for her. You're good enough for us. Actually, you're a bag of shit. Well, or not because Amy's obviously going to enroll up. And she didn't end up going there. Yeah, she's going. Yeah. But good for you.

Good for you. No, I love that. There is, oh, I was going to say there is the appeals process which is great.

That must be stressful though. I just don't know how many, I hear a lot of people say about how they didn't get their first choice school. It's just, it's really hard as well.

Some of the years, like the year Colby was born was really, really quiet, but the year that Dottie was born was really, really busy and that's what terrifies me. There was just more babies that year.

There was like double the numbers of Dotties that year. Yeah. So what Colby's was. Yeah, love that, Amy. Thank you so much. Yeah, good for you. Good on, Daddy.

Yeah. Go on, Daddy. Go on, Daddy. So each week I want to share my tip of the week. Something small that we can all do this week to help us get ready for term time. And it is. I don't know if we can do this right away, but something that I have found that's really, really helped. If you're starting a school, I've spoken about it before, but if you're going to a school, like you would now look for Jojo School, there's Facebook groups, private groups that you can enroll.

into and find out when you get your class you can find out other children yeah speak to parents and something i did with dotty before she started school because colby i couldn't because we were in covid lockdown yeah um something i did with dotty is i arranged a playday with one of the schoolmums so from the class that she was going into so that she'd have a friendly face on the day because something that is so insanely daunting is not having a friendly face on the day like you throw them in there's 30 children there's two adults looking at them i'd be terrified yeah you know so i think arranging something if you're rolling into a new school or you're just starting school is to see if there's any facebook groups see if you can find when your child goes into a class and see if you

can arrange a play date but also when you're in school it's always good to have that one mom friend or to to have a number of maybe the child's favorite friend or the person that they like and to have a play date in the school holidays because something, since having Colby's party speaking to the mums that I'm now obviously have their numbers that I'm able to text them but they've all asked if they can have a play date and Colby has a group of five friends

but now I have through the holidays now we've arranged to have a play date and Colby's quite sensitive he's quite a routine guy so we are arranging a play date in the holidays so that when he before he goes back Even if it's only one play date, just so that they can,

because six weeks is a long time, not to be apart. Not to be with them. And even though they're his friends and he's got a great relationship with them, to then go back into school, it can be daunted. So just have a little play date, range of play date with one of their friends from school. Like a keeping in touch day with work. Yes. Obviously, we're tried with Dottie to look for, you know, in their Facebook group and friends.

And I say, do you want to see anybody? And she's like, nah, I'm great. I just want to be with my cousins. Bless her all. I'm hoping year two, she finds up. She finds her people. Yeah. Yeah.

But no, Colby's, he's got just such a lovely group of friends. Yeah. And dots, bless her heart. She's just, she's struggled in year are and year one. And I'm hoping this is going to be her year that she gets her little. A little bestie. A little bestie, yeah. But she's like, no, I don't need to see no one.

I don't need no one. Literally is what she said to me. When I was ranging them, she was like, I said, do you want to play date with any of your friends from school? She was like, no, why would I? They're your friends? She was up, got my cousins. I'm all right. Right? Yeah, right. Okay. Yeah, I'm, that's great. So yes, it's staying in contact. Always

good to have that mum friend to confirm non-uniform days. Is it a mufty day? Yeah, muffty day. Confirm anything. So that's my tip of the week is if you can arrange a play date, even if it's just one day to have a friendly face to see when they walk into the classroom. It's just nice for them to have something to do as well in the summer holidays, isn't it? Just go to the park, go for a walk, just let the children interact if they've never met before. but yeah but obviously we'll have the boys around now they'll be playing football in the garden of the time of the lives oh that'll be nice yeah you've got a house big enough to host them all now I know what the hell is

any school application tips for us then please do let us know yeah you can email us hello at secret mumpod dot com or with secret mum pod on TikTok and Instagram and we'll be back first thing on Tuesday and we'll be diving into another bit of the back to school roller coaster next Thursday and we'll see you next time on the Secret Mum Club Thank you for your patience.

Your call is important. Can't take being on hold anymore? FIS is 100% online so you can make the switch in minutes. Mobile plans start at $15 a month. Certain conditions apply. Details at fizz.com. Are you tired of being told

to pipe down pet? Calm down, love. Or worst of all, get a grip. Oh, it just gets us so riled up even thinking about it. Well, if you're sick and bite in your tongue, we're here to help you let it all hang out. To call out the kiosk and make some noise. I'm Angela Scanlan.

And I'm Vicki Patterson. Our new podcast is the unapologetic group chat you've always wanted. Introducing, get a grip. So, if you're done with holding back, this is your space. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.