School appeals - help offered

Savvy_Sue · 1 March 2010 at 11:48PM

thebaileys wrote: »

I know they are only little, and make friends easily, but i still feel like crying.

You absolutely must not do this in front of him! You present it as a big adventure: he is SO grown up that he will be going off to Big School to make lots of NEW friends. And also try to make sure you collect phone numbers from particular friends, and try to carry on seeing them for a bit afterwards, until it peters out a bit ...

also you might find that he's not the only one moving to a different school.

But I'm sure you knew all that anyway ...

thebaileys · 3 March 2010 at 2:43PM

Hello,

Just an update.

I got my letter today to state that my son did not get a place, which I already knew as I got an email on monday.

They have enclosed a letter which states how the admissions were made.

Catholic children whose home address is within the parish served by the school-20
Catholic children whose home address is outside of the parish served by the school-1
Children who are baptised or dedicated members of other christian churches as recognised by churches together in england-10

My son is catholic, and living outside of the parish.

This is the admissions critrea-

1. Catholic Children in the care of a Local Authority.
2. Catholic Children whose home address is within the parish(es) served by the school.
3. Catholic Children whose home address is outside of the parish (es) served by the school.
4. Other Children in the care of a Local Authority.
5. Children, who are baptised or dedicated members of other Christian Churches as recognised by Churches Together in England (see note 4).
6. Children of other Faith traditions.
7. Other children.
If applicants are seeking admission

We fall into 3.

So how is it that 10 kids in Cat 5 have got in?

Does anyone think we have good grounds for appeal?

Savvy_Sue · 3 March 2010 at 3:06PM

I believe that schools not following procedure is one of the strongest grounds to appeal, BUT you need to be sure that the information required was submitted at the right time - I'm not doubting that it was but I am not sure that you can introduce new evidence to strengthen your case.

Time to get Ben Rooney's book from the library!

Fly_Baby · 3 March 2010 at 3:07PM

thebaileys wrote: »

Hello,

Just an update.

I got my letter today to state that my son did not get a place, which I already knew as I got an email on monday.

They have enclosed a letter which states how the admissions were made.

Catholic children whose home address is within the parish served by the school-20
Catholic children whose home address is outside of the parish served by the school-1
Children who are baptised or dedicated members of other christian churches as recognised by churches together in england-10

My son is catholic, and living outside of the parish.

This is the admissions critrea-

1. Catholic Children in the care of a Local Authority.
2. Catholic Children whose home address is within the parish(es) served by the school.
3. Catholic Children whose home address is outside of the parish (es) served by the school.
4. Other Children in the care of a Local Authority.
5. Children, who are baptised or dedicated members of other Christian Churches as recognised by Churches Together in England (see note 4).
6. Children of other Faith traditions.
7. Other children.
If applicants are seeking admission

We fall into 3.

So how is it that 10 kids in Cat 5 have got in?

Does anyone think we have good grounds for appeal?

I am so sorry to hear your bad news. My son got his first choice and I was truly overjoyed because it is the best state school in our town and we live quite a distance away but got in on religious grounds.

The fact that your son in Catholic - I am assuming you had to provide a letter from your priest confirming the faith of your son? In religious schools in our area, this letter also has to state that the prospective pupil's family are active church members (for example, they attend 40 services in a calendar year). And schools do ring up those churches and check details provided in the letters.

Could your chosen school not be happy with that letter and decline on that basis - if you had to provide a letter, of course.

thebaileys · 3 March 2010 at 3:12PM

Hello,

Sue-I ordered Ben Rooneys book from Amazon on monday, just waiting for it to arrive.

Yes, we provided the Baptism Certificate.

There was no critrea about how many times you attend church.

However, we do attend so there would be no problems with that.

I just feel that it is not very fair that children who's family's do not follow the catholic faith, have been given priority.

Thanks

bonty44 · 3 March 2010 at 3:17PM

thebaileys wrote: »

Hello,

Just an update.

I got my letter today to state that my son did not get a place, which I already knew as I got an email on monday.

They have enclosed a letter which states how the admissions were made.

Catholic children whose home address is within the parish served by the school-20
Catholic children whose home address is outside of the parish served by the school-1
Children who are baptised or dedicated members of other christian churches as recognised by churches together in england-10

My son is catholic, and living outside of the parish.

This is the admissions critrea-

1. Catholic Children in the care of a Local Authority.
2. Catholic Children whose home address is within the parish(es) served by the school.
3. Catholic Children whose home address is outside of the parish (es) served by the school.
4. Other Children in the care of a Local Authority.
5. Children, who are baptised or dedicated members of other Christian Churches as recognised by Churches Together in England (see note 4).
6. Children of other Faith traditions.
7. Other children.
If applicants are seeking admission

We fall into 3.

So how is it that 10 kids in Cat 5 have got in?

Does anyone think we have good grounds for appeal?

HI - are you sure that the figures they have given you relate to the academic year for which you have applied? I only ask because it is very unusual for them to publish these figures before parents have had time to accept / decline places; usually this information is not published until Appeal.

If they are for the year in which you applied then as long as you provided adequate information showing that your son is Catholic then I would think this would fall under 'maladministration' and yes, you do have grounds for Appeal (I went to Appeal for a Catholic school last year)

thebaileys · 3 March 2010 at 3:22PM

Hello,

Yes they were included with the rejection letter I received this morning.

It states allocations to the school for September 2010 have been made on the following basis.

Thanks

bonty44 · 3 March 2010 at 3:29PM

Thanks for your speedy reply!
Have the school acknowledged receipt of your letter of baptism / proof that your son is Catholic; if so, and he still failed to obtain a place under Category 3, then you have VERY STRONG GROUNDS for appeal and I would make an appointment with the Headteacher asap.
Get hold of the Ben Rooney book as well.

Is this for a Primary or Secondary SChool?

thebaileys · 3 March 2010 at 3:36PM

Hello,

Thanks for your advice.

Yes they have had a copy of the baptism certificate.

He was bapisted at the Church, which is on the grounds of the school.

He has been attending the school nursery for over a year now-this is an application for Primary School.

I've ordered the Ben Rooney book just waiting for it to arrive.

The number of places at the school has dropped from 45 down to 30 this year, which I think has had a big impact.

Thanks

Igol · 3 March 2010 at 3:40PM

My GF and I are moving in together in the summer, the idea being to reduce the amount of disruption on the kids swapping schools.
She contacted the LA and told them the situation and that the choice of school originally stated was now totally inappropriate (different town, 50 miles away). Guess what came back yesterday, the local Academy is over subscribed so the youngest has been given the original choice.
Now we have all the fun of appealling or do I enquire if they'll be paying for a taxi each day?

I'm going to be putting the letter together at the weekend anyone got any tips, the urge to swear is quite strong

School appeals - help offered

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