School appeals - help offered

chesky

Fair point......

Kerrienorwich

Hayley I would really like to message you but it states your inbox is full

sheramber

Kerrienorwich wrote: »

Hayley I would really like to message you but it states your inbox is full

Hayley hasn't logged on since 2010.

sfancy

Hi there, I have launched an appeal and sent the admissions authority questions to answer ( so I can prepare my case.) They have refused, saying that all the info I need will be presented in their case on the day. I'm certain I read something about how they have to answer any reasonable questions I ask? Any advise? Would this be considered maladministration?

Changingtimes

I am writing on behalf of a friend. Her son who is in nursery at said school and settled there has been refused a place at the school. They have give no reason for the refusal just a refusal. They have offered a place at local catholic school but no disrespect doesn't want him to go to a Catholic school not being a practising Catholic. As they give her no reason for the refusal on what grounds would she appeal. To me it seems without reason they have not acted fairly? Any advice welcome please

Savvy_Sue

The main grounds for appeal are that they have not followed their admissions procedures. So what are the criteria for the school the nursery is attached to? It almost certainly says that attending the nursery does not guarantee a place in the school. Do they live closer than other children who have been admitted who are on the same level of priority? (Looked after children are often top of the admissions list, younger children of siblings who will still be attending may also be quite high, then it's often down to distance).

Changingtimes

Hi thanks for your comment. There are children living further in distance admitted yes. Also surely the school cannot prejudice against a single child family over those with 3 or 4 children etc? In terms of being looked after as the child comes from a working single parent a registered child minder takes and collects him from school again the reason this child minder was chosen is because she lives even closer to the school.
The school offered again is close by but a practising Catholic school who encourage the children to be baptised this is against the beliefs of the family also.
The family feel they are being prejudiced by the refusing and the offer of admission school. Again would any of the above form a part of a successful appeal? Thanks in advance.

LilElvis

Changingtimes wrote: »

Hi thanks for your comment. There are children living further in distance admitted yes. Also surely the school cannot prejudice against a single child family over those with 3 or 4 children etc? In terms of being looked after as the child comes from a working single parent a registered child minder takes and collects him from school again the reason this child minder was chosen is because she lives even closer to the school.
The school offered again is close by but a practising Catholic school who encourage the children to be baptised this is against the beliefs of the family also.
The family feel they are being prejudiced by the refusing and the offer of admission school. Again would any of the above form a part of a successful appeal? Thanks in advance.

A child who is "looked after" refers to one who is in the care of social services, not one who is collected by a childminder. Priority is generally given to a child who already has siblings at the school because it would be unreasonable to expect a parent to have to drop off and collect children from multiple schools, possibly miles apart, which obviously would not be an issue if there is only one child.

pinkshoes

Changingtimes wrote: »

Hi thanks for your comment. There are children living further in distance admitted yes. Also surely the school cannot prejudice against a single child family over those with 3 or 4 children etc? In terms of being looked after as the child comes from a working single parent a registered child minder takes and collects him from school again the reason this child minder was chosen is because she lives even closer to the school.
The school offered again is close by but a practising Catholic school who encourage the children to be baptised this is against the beliefs of the family also.
The family feel they are being prejudiced by the refusing and the offer of admission school. Again would any of the above form a part of a successful appeal? Thanks in advance.

If they live further in distance then this will be no doubt why they did not get in.

Why should they get a place and someone closer not get a place?

The sibling rule is logical. My son attends our local primary school. If his brother and sister needed to attend another school it would be a nightmare for me.

I'd suggest going to have a look around the local catholic school. There is a primary catholic school in the town next to ours which parents fight to get into regardless of being religious!

honeypop

Changingtimes wrote: »

The family feel they are being prejudiced by the refusing and the offer of admission school. Again would any of the above form a part of a successful appeal?

Before considering an appeal (or being able to answer whether one would be worthwhile), can you confirm they followed the admissions process exactly and on time (this being important, as if the application was late then people further away who applied on time would be admitted before them).

Also, has there been an actual refusal, or they applied and didn't get offered a space?