School appeals - help offered

Karrie

silvercar wrote:

We live on the boundary of three London boroughs and a shire county; geographically we are in the county but there is one local school that is dire. It was formed by amalgamating two dire schools, so they now have only one school at the bottom of the league tables rather than two - allegedly.
Anyway people try every which way they can to cross boundaries.

There was a ruling a few years ago, that I understand is still in force (as its used a lot round here!). Its called the Greenwich ruling from memory. Basically a school can have a criteria measured by distance but they cannot discriminate by artificial boundaries. So you can have rules by measuring distance from school to home but schools cannot state that you have to live in a particular local authority or county.

It may be that the 2 girls you refer to actually live nearer the school.

Thank you - I am double checking the information because I was told they their parents could possibly be using their old address/their parents address (which is in the catchment area). But you know what gossip is like. Could be totally genuine. They live at least 2 miles further than we do from the school.

tightgit_2

Can I put in an appeal to more than one school or would than lessen the chances of winning the appeal ?

hayleyjg

tightgit - you can appeal to any school that has refused you a place and it dosn't make any difference to your chances. It may be that the panel for each school will be different and I have been to appeals for two different schools where a different panel has made a different decision for the same family.

Karrie

You were correct about "that" book. I have found it very helpful. Can I just ask a question please? The Ofsted report for my childs allocated school does not make good reading with regards to behaviour, tackling bad behaviour and the quality of teaching. Whilst I don't want to talk about the quality of teacher in my appeal, I do want to quote lines regarding the bad behaviour. This is relevant to my appeal because my child is bullied by children that will be attending that school. ALL his friends are going to his school of choice. Any advise would be welcome :beer:

suzannewysiwyg

Please could you PM me or email me?

Karrie

suzannewysiwyg wrote: »

Please could you PM me or email me?

are you appealing too?

suzannewysiwyg

Hi, it's quite a long story really! But may as well post it for all to see!

I have tried to be as above board as possible with the LEA's and Schools etc etc ....

This may be very long btw :-)

I am due to be moving house in a couple of months, (Well, end of July!)to be with my partner, who has owned a property for four years, whilst renovating it. (He currently lives with his family) But pays bills etc for the renovation home. (builder just finished work on the new house).

We contacted the schools, primary for my daughter secondary for my son. To be told we had to apply to the LEA concerned, this we did. My son has 'slight' SEN needs, but is not statemented (he can't get a statement as his probs aren't academic and don't warrant statementing, he is on School Action).

We contacted the LEA for the new Borough, who at first took both admissions (son of 10 and daughter 4) via email (receipt retained), we then had a letter to say that they could not be considered because, we don't physically live at the new address yet. After contact with them we were told that if I could get a letter with new address and my name, they would then be able to add my children to the list for consideration. I did this, (Bank statement, as suggested via LEA). I then had a phone call to say the woman concerned, had made a mistake and they couldn't consider us afterall, that we needed to apply to the LEA where we currently reside, (Unbeknown to me, until last week, they must have omitted my children off the lists for the schools in the new borough). As a result of this, it seems I can't appeal as they have no record of us ..... although I have evidence in the form of email receipts for our applications.

My son has been offered a good school where we live, so it's not like we are trying to be dishonest. - We can't move until he has finished his SAT's because we feel its unfair to him (he has been seeing a counsellor for PTSD and can be very sensitive to change). We have letters from the Head at his current school and also his outreach worker from a local 'special school' - but noone seems interested!

It's not practical for him to commute, it's at least a two hour bus journey.

Told you it would be long!

Karrie

It's such a stressful time and I am not qualified to advise you but can quote from my book.

"Where a child has been refused entry to a school, parents should receive, in writing, full reasons why the application was unsuccessful, in light of the published admissions criteria for the school. The letter to parents must inform them of their right of appeal, including details of how to make an appeal (a pre-printed form can be used) and the person to who they should send their notice of appeal"
School Admission Appeals Code of Practice, paragraph 4.4

"At this stage you need do no more than state your intention to appeal. You are under no obligation whatsoever to state your reasons for appeal."

Failing that you could contact the Local Government Ombudsman.

I hope this helps or points you in the right direction what to do next.

If you want me to look up anything else in my little book - just shout

Karrie

Make sure you keep a record of every conversation and a copy of all e-mails and letters.

scrimpandsaver

I think you should also add in here, that many appeals are unsuccessful for infant places due to class size, unless you can prove wrong doing, and that should procedures of been followed accordingly your child would of normally been offered a place, I don't think you have much chance, purely because to most people they would think it is only 1 extra child, but that one extra child would mean the school goes over their maximum 30 places, and therefore would need to get another teacher, which costs alot of money, not all schools take medical needs into the situation, I know catholic schools don't as they believe it can discriminater against the child if they do take into account medical needs.