School appeals - help offered

Christmasshopper

Karrie wrote: »

Also, I guess the only way to get it across to the appeal panel apart from the written appeal, is to be completely honest and passionate when it comes to your private appeal. You may not even get that far. Do you have the group appeal? My son got in on the group appeal and didn't have to go to private appeal. So you never know. How many children are appealing?

Absolutely right. You need to ask as many questions as possible at the group appeal to try to cast doubt on the school's case. If the school fail to prove they are full you could get in at that stage.
Do you have the school's statement yet giving their reasons why they can't accept anymore children? You should get it 7 days before the hearing.

Sarahsaver

hayleyjg wrote: »

I work for an local authority in the school admissions team and have many years experience of school appeals (both admissions and exclusions) so if anyone has any questions I would be happy to help.

Are you sure you are allowed to do this?

Karrie

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Are you sure you are allowed to do this?

Why? She's been a great help to us on here.

bestpud

Christmasshopper wrote: »

Thank you Bestpud. If you suspect you might need to go through the appeal proccess sooner or later, I suggest you buy Ben Rooney's book and read it over and over again.
There are several things you might be able to do early to improve your chances of getting into the school you would like. For example if your child is struggling at school you could speak to the SENCO and get it on record. If your child has an interest that your chosen school specialises in, you could encourage it. If it's a church school, you may want to start attending the church. If your child has a medical problem, you could ask your doctor if he would support an appeal if necessary. If your child is being bullied you could start to keep a diary. You get the idea.
The appeal proccess takes a lot of time and hard work. The more you can prepare for it, the better it will be.
Good luck and thank you for thinking of us.

That's a good idea and one I hadn't thought of, so thank you!

I have obviously thought about different ways we can get dd into the secondary we want her to go to, but had only got as far as moving house!

It is a church school but I can't go down the church route as I am not at all religious myself (neither is DH) and I can't morally justify going to church just to get her in. Feels very wrong to me although I know of several parents who have done just that and are happy to say so!

I will definitely get the book and start thinking about different activities for dd now. She doesn't have any medical or learning difficulties. Our main reason is that our older children attend our catchment school and I have no doubt that it has been detrimental to their educational and social well-being. Proving that is a different matter and obviously has nothing to do with our youngest so can't be used as such.

I feel very strongly about it and will move house if I feel I need to. Trouble is we rent from a housing association and nobody wants to swap to our area because of the school situation!!! I can't see we will be able to buy a house so our only option will be to give up our house and rent privately - but if needs must!

Thanks again,

Bestpud

Christmasshopper

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Are you sure you are allowed to do this?

Why? Hayley has been a fabulous help. She has given us advice for free which would have cost us a fortune if we had gone to some of the school appeal websites.

Sarahsaver

I meant I wonder whether terms and conditions of her position had been contravened, I was not at all doubting the helpfulness of her advice :eek:

Karrie

Sarahsaver wrote: »

I meant I wonder whether terms and conditions of her position had been contravened, I was not at all doubting the helpfulness of her advice :eek:

I am sure there are thousands on MSE that contravene their t&c of position. Who cares? Have you gone on to insurance, jobseeking, pensions threads etc and posted exactly the same comment on helpful posts? Sorry but I don't see the point in the comment. This thread has been very valuable to those of us who need advise during a very stressful time.

Sarahsaver

Ignore me then please!

Karrie

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Ignore me then please!

okey dokey

robcar

hayleyjg wrote: »

I work for an local authority in the school admissions team and have many years experience of school appeals (both admissions and exclusions) so if anyone has any questions I would be happy to help.

Hi firstly thank you for your help and time. I am in the position where my son has left his independent school through mutual agreement at the most inopportune moment, the end of year 10. The nearest school and the one where he would like to go to because he knows many of the pupils is less than 2.5 miles away.
We were informed that this school is full and we have been offered a school 19 miles away in another town where he knows no one.
What would your recomendations be