Has anyone here APPEALED for a Secondary School place before?

[Guest]

We appealed for our daughter to go to our first choice of secondary school and went to a hearing.

The panel listened to our reasons which were based on the superior achievements of the chosen school and their emphasis on subjects that suited our daughter. We also highlighted our liking of the chosen school's approach to discipline and reward.

However, we were told that the school was full and that pupils were allocated places by taking sisters of existing pupils first and then on "distance from the school".

Imagine our frustration when we found out that another pupil had been admitted who lived further away and had no relative in the school! There was no appeal.

[Dazed]

Thank you all for your replies. I will google to see if I can find that charity mentioned.

As far as I know, the Admission Authority's case is that the school year is full (190 pupils) and they have to prove that taking an extra child will be detrimental to the learning of the children already in the school. It is up to me to argue that accepting my son will not.

I am hoping that his exemplary school report, academic grades etc all go in his favour for that. The bullying (and lack of action from current school in resolving this) along with medical letter, should be considered seriously and hopefully will be enough.

If it isn't, then I have no other options. I can appeal for each school individually and go through the process over and over. I can appeal once per school year, so in theory if they say no in a May I can do it all again in September but I really don't want to keep appealing.

I received my acknowledgment letter today telling me that I will receive the hearing date soon. I can't wait to go to Disney next week so that I don't have to deal with it all for a few weeks.

[evergreen]

Not me but my friend did and won twice for 2 dd she took
. Reference from head of primary , and letters from all there clubs - coaches,
. Read up on the schools as in values and goals and stated how here child would benefit from the school and how the school would benefit from her child etc..
. She went very prepared and had to face a panel

[DFussy]

Hi again. Hope the charity can give you some helpful advice. Agree with what Evergreen said about trying to look at school ethos etc and bring it in to your pitch - its almost like a job interview.

When preparing for our appeal for a church school (which happens to be the nearest to our house), I intended to stress, that whilst not a practising Christian, the christian values such as fairness were what we wanted for our daughter - backhanded reference to the fact that the council had not fairly applied the rules!

My dad used to be a school governor, who sat in on appeals in another area, so I asked him to come into appeal with me, and sent him my prep notes, and he thought hat kind of stuff was good - maybe just trying to make me feel better though!

It seems to me, you can evidence several year groups overstrength already (I used the school calendar to do the same in my preparation) which presumably the school doesn't feel damages their kids education, and a need for a move for your child, supported by their school - so your appeal is setting off on a good footing - not just an I want.

I wish you the best of luck, and try to let Florida take it off your mind for a few weeks. D

[Dazed]

Thank you.

This is definitely not an 'I want' case. Having 5 children that are all/have been through the school system, this is the first time that I have felt that a school really isn't a safe environment for my child. All schools have issues and all children receive some sort of social exclusion/name calling at some point in their school life but this is different. This is consistent verbal and physical bullying over a sustained 2 year period and it is not going to go away.

I will definitely be pulling the information from the new school's website on their current year group numbers, their ethos, their curriculum and their behaviour policy to highlight and take with me.

Thank you for al the advice you are giving me - I will be following through on all of it.

[scouser]

We are going through this process at the moment for year 7 with our son. It's worrying but going to go to the appeal as best informed as possible. I don't even know anyone close to us who has been through an appeal process to ask for tips.

[Vinniecat]

Could you get a doctors letter explaining the health effects this is having on your son? I wish you best of luck. Please keep us informed. I'm sorry you have to wait so long.

[Dazed]

Originally Posted by Vinniecat

Could you get a doctors letter explaining the health effects this is having on your son? I wish you best of luck. Please keep us informed. I'm sorry you have to wait so long.

See more...

Yes, I have submitted a letter from our doctor explaining the health issues.

I have been given my appeal hearing date. Wednesday 26th April, 1 week after we get back from Florida.

I will let you all know the outcome.

[Whitequeen]

I've done 2 appeals and won both.Take as much relevant information as possible and just be confident in your delivery. Stick to the facts and don't side track. They're not interested in chit chat. That's all you can do. Good luck.