School appeals - help offered

Savvy_Sue

Did you put the information about the bullying in your initial application? 

Have you asked for his name to put on the waiting list? Do this NOW, and ask how many others are on the list above him. If it's a small number, your chances are better than if you are 101st - but bear in mind that even if you are 1st, they will accept other children before him if those other children fit certain criteria. 

Go to the other schools you put on your application, and see if you can add his name to a waiting list there. 

I don't think they care about how you get your child there ... 

nirvana314

Well when I did the initial application, I contacted admissions so I could get all the information I needed and to explain the situation.  I was basically told no matter what I put, it all goes down to certain criteria when they hand the places out.  For example catchment, distance, spaces.  They also said if I needed to go into a greater depth and explain the things I've just told them then this is what the appeals process is for if my son isn't offered the place.  So here I am now in that position, kicking myself that I listened to that advice.

I have contacted them today and they've told me hes currently 7th in line and she sounded very positive, she obviously also said to still go through with the appeal.  Then as you said even if he's 7th their could be other children they will accept before him.  But I'm trying to remain positive.  Also on the phone I explained the situation again, being upset with myself for not putting certain information down onto the application.  She also said not to worry as this would of made no difference against the criteria they follow when they give out school places. 

I have also put my name down on waiting lists of the other schools I haven't been offered.  

Savvy_Sue

then for now you can do no more. 

The only thing to think about is  what to say to your son. His friends and not-friends may be talking about where they are going: you might want to work out what he wants to say to them. 

schooliscool

My son did not get the school of his choice and is severely upset by this, has been crying daily and its worse to hear that all the other boys in the class got into his preferred school. We have been offered another school that has a bad reputation and just does not suffice academically and socially, but leaving that aside by son refuses to go to any other school and is adamant on just not going to school. You can imagine how stressful this is for me. I am working on an appeal and have several grounds in mind that I would like to run past you lovely people. I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and depression and this situation has already triggered several panic attacks. I would have so much peace of mind knowing my son is attending the same school his older brother (in sixth form) is attending. It's really sad that he didn't get in because all his older brothers have attended this school. He is very impressionable and is affected by other childrens words easily so its really a concern to have him attend a completely knew school without his friends and a sibling. Also this school does not offer the language he is interested in and the art course he is interested in. Are these good things to include? Can I please get some advice. 

Savvy_Sue

Have you got him on the waiting list and found out how far up or down it he is?

Have you checked the admissions criteria were correctly applied?

pebblecat

Hi. Any advice please?

My daughter has just missed out on her first choice secondary school. The second choice is also a great school so the issue isn’t the school itself. The issue is that all of her close friends and even her wider circle have all been placed at the preferred school and she is devastated as she feels completely cut off.

My daughter has been having anxiety type issues for the last year. We have been mostly managing these at home and thought she was getting better but this has been a massive set back. She has been referred for tests and counselling by our GP and is seeing a counsellor at school.

We are just getting our heads around the appeals process and whether or not we even stand a chance. Any advice please?

Some facts -

We are currently 8th on the waiting list
Oversubscription is distance only, we are 4.3metres outside (!)
The late submission deadline is Friday 13th March, this could move us up or down the list
We live in the north-west corner of a housing estate, in the north-west corner of a community, in the north-west corner of the town! The school in question is more or less centrally located so the catchment area has geographically cut us off from most of the community. North and west of us is pretty much fields and farms.

silvercar

 "but leaving that aside by son refuses to go to any other school and is adamant on just not going to school. "
These children are 10 or 11, they cannot be allowed to say they will just not go to school.
If they are making statements like this they are picking up views of their parents. You have a responsibility to make your child feel positive about any school that they may attend. By all means express a preference, but don't feed their fear. Unless you are serious about home schooling it is ridiculous to entertain the notion that they can sit at home all day. 

silvercar

Some facts -

We are currently 8th on the waiting list
Oversubscription is distance only, we are 4.3metres outside (!)
The late submission deadline is Friday 13th March, this could move us up or down the list
We live in the north-west corner of a housing estate, in the north-west corner of a community, in the north-west corner of the town! The school in question is more or less centrally located so the catchment area has geographically cut us off from most of the community. North and west of us is pretty much fields and farms.

Where is the school you have been offered? Can you appeal on the grounds that the distance to the school you have been offered is too great in relation to this school? I know locally (and we are in the corner tip of an area) that some places were allocated on the basis of the distance to the nearest alternative school being excessive ie if the central school didn't offer people in the NW corner would have had to travel to the SE corner, so instead those in the NW corner were allocated the central one and those in the centre but SE side were given the SE corner school.

pebblecat

Where is the school you have been offered? Can you appeal on the grounds that the distance to the school you have been offered is too great in relation to this school? I know locally (and we are in the corner tip of an area) that some places were allocated on the basis of the distance to the nearest alternative school being excessive ie if the central school didn't offer people in the NW corner would have had to travel to the SE corner, so instead those in the NW corner were allocated the central one and those in the centre but SE side were given the SE corner school.

Hi, unfortunately not in this case. The school she has been offered is actually slightly closer as it is directly south, whilst the other is so it east. It’s just so unfortunate that all of her friends are closer to that school. If any of them had been placed with her it would be a non-issue

Samandy73

Hi,
Are you still available for advice regarding appealing for a school place?
Thank you