School appeals - help offered

blue_monkey_2

Hi Dimple,

We had the same senario to you. Because we was Housing Association and had no choice where we lived and intended on staying here a long time then this went in our favour.

The people on the panel made me fell I could take as much time as I wanted and were really nice - although we did still feel very nervous.

You have to put down anything you think is relevant, even if you think it irrelevant. Do you know how many children are in the class you want your son to attend. Class sizes must not exceed 30 for children of Primary Age, however, if they have exceeded this in other years you can argue that they have already exceeded the class size and so can accomodate your children through their school years.

They do want to know everything such as your working hours, where you work, where they will be going after school if you work ft, why you moved when you knew the admission date was pending, etc.... The best thing I can say is be prepared. Do you have the statement from the school yet? We got a copy and this really helped get our statement in order.

dimple

Hi

Thanks everyone for your responses. How do I find out whether the school has exceeded the 30 pupil limit in previous years. And can the fact that I am in the catchment area (distance) for one school count in my favour. I just feel like I am fighting a loosing battle. I will forced to give up work if I do not get both of the twins into school by their 5th birthday as they will no longer be able to attend private day care, will the appeal board take that into consideration.

dimple

Savvy_Sue

dimple, if the LEA cannot offer you a primary school place within 2 miles then I believe they will have to pay for transport to the school they can find places at. Unless there is an obvious bus route, that might mean they arrange a taxi. But ask them: I didn't think they could just sort of shrug and say "there might be places here" but had to offer you places somewhere! may be different if the schools they are telling you to look at are in a different education authority, of course, but even so your LEA would have to pay for transport.

sal-ad_daze

bestpud wrote: »

It's so nice to hear there are human beings on these panels! I think, as a parent, it can feel as though they are a big barrier you need to overcome rather than people out to help iyswim?

Could I just check your last point out please?

Are you saying that as long as a child is living within the catchment area before they reach key stage 2, the school have to take them? Even if they are oversubscribed and/or have a waiting list?

According to our LA Senior Inspector who represents the LA at the appeals, at this 'season's primary appeals.
If A child has a proven address within the 'in zone' or 'catchment area' of a school, if they apply to the junior (KS2) department then a place has to be found for that child.
In Zone children always take priority over children who are in another catchment area, if there is a waiting list then the distance criteria would come into place if the school was under subscribed. If our LA are doing things right then if you live within the catchment area and apply for a place in the KS2 department then the school has to allow your child. I believe, from what he says, that some junior classes are therefore larger than the HT would like; being now in the high 30's but that they are managing.

HTH

sal-ad_daze

dimple wrote: »

Hi

Thanks everyone for your responses. How do I find out whether the school has exceeded the 30 pupil limit in previous years. And can the fact that I am in the catchment area (distance) for one school count in my favour. I just feel like I am fighting a loosing battle. I will forced to give up work if I do not get both of the twins into school by their 5th birthday as they will no longer be able to attend private day care, will the appeal board take that into consideration.

dimple

Ring the school and ask them!
You should have a booklet from your LA explaining the procedure, ours has a section in the back listing all the schools and their planned admission numbers.
Ask the school how these are organised into classes, remember what I said earlier about 'vertical streaming' where they mix two classes together?
If the school won't tell you (there's no reason why they shouldn't but some HT's can be precious) then ask the LA inspector at the appeal. If they say they don't have that information then ask if they can go and get it, it is important to see how the numbers are shared out classwise throughout the Key Stage, you may see a glich where there is space for more.

The Appeal panel will do all they can for you, most of them are parents too and will have been through the same anxieties you have. It is up to the Authority to prove it has administered the admissions properly, as I said before with Qualifying measures this is the only way the panel can overturn the authorities decision.
I have to warn you that the panel won't be able to take into consideration your job arrangements, not for KS1 as their hands are tied legally.

You have to look at how the amissions were administrated, how the school is set up and try to find a loophole.

The authority will have met it's legal obligation by offering you a place in the nearest alternative school.

I'm sorry I can't be more help, this is just as frustrating for the panels.

I hope you get on ok, just remember the panel are human too;) !

dimple

Hi

This sounds promising although my twins are going to be in reception and I have been advised that they have to cap the classes at 30. if this is the case then I am done for and really have no chance of winning the appeal.

As suggested by someone I am going to try and find out whether they have ever accepted over 30 admissions and use this to add to my appeal to them. If not I only have the fact that I live in the catchment area and I am not sure if this will help me.

Thanks again for the advice.

Dimple

elisamoose

sal-ad_daze wrote: »

According to our LA Senior Inspector who represents the LA at the appeals, at this 'season's primary appeals.
If A child has a proven address within the 'in zone' or 'catchment area' of a school, if they apply to the junior (KS2) department then a place has to be found for that child.
In Zone children always take priority over children who are in another catchment area, if there is a waiting list then the distance criteria would come into place if the school was under subscribed. If our LA are doing things right then if you live within the catchment area and apply for a place in the KS2 department then the school has to allow your child. I believe, from what he says, that some junior classes are therefore larger than the HT would like; being now in the high 30's but that they are managing.

HTH

Not sure this is true -I work in a primary and we have a maximum number of pupils we can take based on physical capacity.In our case this works out at 30 per class. We can take more in one year group but only if less in another. Our KS1 classes are legally limited to 30 . In our LA there is spare primary capacity so usually a nearby school (within a mile) has places.

sal-ad_daze

elisamoose wrote: »

Not sure this is true -I work in a primary and we have a maximum number of pupils we can take based on physical capacity.In our case this works out at 30 per class. We can take more in one year group but only if less in another. Our KS1 classes are legally limited to 30 . In our LA there is spare primary capacity so usually a nearby school (within a mile) has places.

This is why I mentioned it as 'Our LA advisor says' because I can't understand how they can publish a PAN then say that a KS2 child must be admited if they're in zone but, it that's what he says...

dimple

Hi all

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all that responded to my post and tried to help me prepare for the appeal last Thursday.

I WON the appeal and my children will be starting school on Monday. I have not received the letter yet so do not know what grounds my application was allowed but I am over the moon.

Thanks again



dimple

Neff_2

Hi could anyone help or give ideas?
We moved to another town recently and put our 13 year old in
nearest school, even tho it was bottom of the schools for the area
and has a very bad reputation, but we thought we would give it a try.
Daughter was bullied badly even involving comments about having
her throat cut!
Spoke to year head who said child that made comment was all mouth and
trousers!!
Daughter too scared to go to school, school is pretty bad education wise and run down.
Anyway applied for another school that is simaliar to old school, top of the tables, good education ect but its full, well its 6 pupils over in her year, so we are appealing..

What would you use as grounds to appeal, so far we are going to
mention the school didnt seem to care if its kids made comments about knifes.
That we had doubts about school reputation but we would give it a go, and the new school is same as old one, good education and she would thrive
there.
Do we say the school year is already 6 over, so what harm is one more?
Shes no snob, nor am i, but other school is very chav, very run down,
my daughter is not perfect, but well spoken and has manners, and doesnt understand chav speak!!
The school we would like is more what she is used to
Shes not going to school atm as shes too frightened!!
Any help would be brill.