School appeals - help offered

Bubby

If my youngest doesn't get in to the same school as my eldest could I then appeal for my eldest to get into the same school that my youngest does get into if they don't have spaces in the year group? (the year group would be year 2 then)

I hope that makes sense.....can't stop dreaming about schools now:rolleyes:

bonty44

Hi Bubby - yes, you can appeal only once for the same school unless circumstances change; there is no limit to the number of schools you can appeal for. Although quite how anyone would have the strength to go through an appeal more than once I don't know ...

HTH

Ladyshopper

I have had my appeal letter through today (finally!) for my daughter. Will try and keep circumstances as brief as possible in the hope someone can give advice!

Live in catchment area of best school in area (deliberately moved house 2 years ago, as particularly wanted DS to go there for the special needs department, and at that time he wasn't statemented, so needed to be in catchment. He has since been statemented for dyslexia).

The school is an all the way though school - from 4 years to 18 years. DS has just started in year 7 there this week (secondary), and in January this year I applied using the transfer process for DD to also move there to start year 6 this September. Main reasons for this were having both children at same school. The pair of them have a good relationship, and DS can be quite shy and not very confident, plus has some self esteem issues, these are all mentioned on his statement. Whilst I realised that DS and DD wouldn't see each other in the day, obviously they would walk/cycle to and from school together, and DD often acts as "reader" for DS, as his reading is appalling due to the dyslexia and he gets embarrased about asking for help.

I was well aware the school was/is over subscribed, so didn't fancy my chances of DD getting in despite being in the catchment area, and I was right, she didn't.

There are 31 in year 6 which is where she would be going. Obviously there isn't the same legal limit of 30 as for key stage 1, but they still like to keep it to 30, so I guess they will use the "taking your daughter will prejudice the education of the others in the class".

I was offered another alternative primary school in the area we have moved into, and DD started there this week pending the appeal. She has settled in fine, and made friends. She is very sociable, and has no problems adapting to things. I still want her to go to DS school though, although I do feel guilty that I may potentially be disrupting her again in year 6.

Another key reason for wanting to go ahead with the appeal, is that due to the popularity of the school, I fear she will not get in next year when we put it down as first choice for secondary school, as this year that has just started, there were several children living in our area who didn't. DS only got in because of his statement. Although in catchment, we are near the outskirts of it, and in the admissions criteria it says if the school is over subscribed, they will give priority to the children who are furthest away from the nearest alternative school (so basically priority is given to kids nearest this school). The nearest alternative school to us is dire, no way would I send her there. I think she would be bullied there due to my job (police officer), as we deal with a lot of kids from there!

Siblings are also listed on the admissions criteria, but lower down than area, and if the school is over subscribed on any of the criteia they revert to taking the nearest children, so siblings don't get criteria.

If I was to get DD in to this school in year 6 via appeal, then she would automatically carry on to secondary there, and I wouldn't have to apply. That would take away the months of stress and waiting, something we have both already been through this year when she was on the transfer list and they kept giving us dates they would let us know, until eventually it was the last week of term. I guess I am possibly trying to "work the system", in terms of getting her in now to ensure her place at secondary, but the plan all along was for them to both go there when we moved.

So, if I haven't bored you all silly, and advice would be fab! I have read the Ben Rooney book (had it out since June from the library, keep renewing it!). I am a single parent, and my concern is really for next year, so I am trying to prevent the worst from happening by getting her in now. I would really struggle having 2 at different schools and getting to work. It could possible effect the children seeing their Dad as much, as he also has a step-son who is at a 3rd school, and wouldn't be able to get them all to different schools. I also took on a big mortgage in moving to this area to ensure I was in catchment, and yet it seems I didn't get that right as we're now not close enough (after I moved, another estate was added to the admissions criteria, and now has priority for some reason).

You may think I'm jumping the gun, and why not wait til next year and see what happens. However, I don't want to take that chance, and going on what happened this year, I can pretty much guarantee she won't get in.

hhorange

This is a long one. My 2 girls attend a very small rural village school (in catchment area) Reception and Year 2. We have a problem teaching headteacher at the school who is extremely defensive and will do all she can to attack anyone who raises concerns at the school. I am aware that she moved away from her previous post (out of county) just before the teachers raised a vote of no confidence. We have had governors, parents, and staff leave continually as she 'picks off' anyone who challenges her in any way. Parents are too scared to talk to her and the school is slowly disintegrating around us. My children cry about going to school, complain of 'stomach ache' and complain that she shouts all the time. Staffing is inconsistent - my youngest daughter averages 5 different teachers each week! Everything came to a head when 2 weeks ago, I spoke to the class teacher about my child not being allowed to go swimming because she didn't have a coat (evidently it was school policy that the children had been told about but not the parents). I wrote a letter expressing my concerns especially as I found out that the same situation had occurred last year with other parents. The following day I received a letter from the head accusing me of being aggressive when talking to the class teacher - which is a complete fabrication and seems to be a reaction to my letter. The day after posters went up all over the school saying that violent and abusive visitors would be prosecuted. I feel bullied by her and dread taking my girls to school despite the support of all the other parents. I have taken my complaint to the local authority who are investigating (mine is not the only one pertaining to this headteacher). However, I am no longer prepared to take my children to the school.
All the alternative schools are 'out of area', and approx the same distance away from my house. So to transfer, will definitely require an appeal. The school I would like them to attend has wrap around care, a no shouting policy and friends of my daughters whose family will be able to assist with childcare to enable my return to work (as well as easing the transfer for my children). However, the school capacity is 84 (intake each year is capped to 12). The school currently has 88 on roll. There are 4 classes with mixed year groups and the key stage 1 classes are significantly below 30. The head told myself and my husband that the school could hold 120 and so we should go to appeal. 2 other 'local' schools have spaces, but cannot provide the childcare that I require.
Can anyone advise if I stand a chance with an appeal? I feel so stressed at this whole situation and don't know what to do for the best.

sueridd1

Hi, i have an 11 year old boy who goes to school in hertfordshire, we live outside of hertfordshire 0.5 miles from the herts/beds border. Are catchment area for infant and junior school is hertfordshire but when it comes to secondary schools it is bedfordshire, who operate a lower , middle and upper school system whereas herts operate infant, junior and secondary. The local authority now want my child to enter a totally different education system which would mean changing school twice in two years. Taking him away from the kids he has been with for the last 6 years would be tough enough but changing twice in two years in unreal.WE live in a small village with the nearest herfordshire school being 2 miles away, and the nearest befordshire school is 10 miles away. My son also has learning difficulties he has an IEP in place at mo and is to be seen by a education psychologist and has been in the past under the care of an occupational therapist which the hertfordshire schools can deal with better than the bedfordshire school . Can somebody please give me some advice as to wether i would have a strong enough case for appeal, every other child in the village goes to a herts school and there is even a minibus that runs through the village to drop kids of in herts. Would be gratefull of all help/ adviceI have been told by the head of Hertfordshire admissions that i will not get in on apllication and it depends on the appeal board on the day which is most comforting. A lady further out from us by a mile got into a school in herts last year on appeal for purely social reasons, she has been kind enough to show me her appeal letter and the reply from the lea upholding her appeal.

neilkr

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.

Is it legal for schools to offer a place and 2 days later retract it citing admin error as a reason???????
I would really appreciate it if you can help with this question.

Kind regards,
Neil

thebaileys

Hello,

Has anyone else received bad news today about there little one's school for this September?

I did my application online and received an e-mail to say that he has not got a place at my first, and only choice school.

I am totally gutted and have cried all afternoon-It might sound silly as I know its not the end of the world, but he has attended the nursery for over a year now and has made lots of friends.

We moved house last May further away from the school, so not sure if this is a factor.

There is a little boy who lives 2 doors down attends the school. However the admission numbers have dropped from 45 down to 30. The head said that 2 years ago when she had to give the LEA the numbers that there had been a decline in children applying for the school. So thats 15 places gone straight away.

The e-mail doesn't state what school my son has been offered a place at.

Does anyone know what happens if you have only put down one school, will he get offered a place anywhere else. I am just so confused!

I have ordered Ben Rooneys book, so I can get ready to appeal.

Thanks for listening.

go_cat

Hi my first post so please be gentle
my son has been to the same nursery ( about 2 miles from our home and unconnected to a school ) for the last 2 1/2 years due to my DH and I working full time ( we currently leave him at 7.15am and collect at 5.30pm ) - this nursery take and collect children from selected schools near them. The school my son will be offered is not one that they take to / collect from, and we have no-one else who could take / collect him . Does anyone know if this would be enough grounds to appeal the LEA's decision?

Savvy_Sue

thebaileys wrote: »

The e-mail doesn't state what school my son has been offered a place at.

Does anyone know what happens if you have only put down one school, will he get offered a place anywhere else. I am just so confused!

I am fairly sure they will offer a place elsewhere, but it's possible that it takes a few days to work their way through the options if you didn't put any choices down. I would give them a call when you can.

go_cat wrote: »

Hi my first post so please be gentle

Welcome, and remember, there's a first post for everyone ...

go_cat wrote: »

my son has been to the same nursery ( about 2 miles from our home and unconnected to a school ) for the last 2 1/2 years due to my DH and I working full time ( we currently leave him at 7.15am and collect at 5.30pm ) - this nursery take and collect children from selected schools near them. The school my son will be offered is not one that they take to / collect from, and we have no-one else who could take / collect him . Does anyone know if this would be enough grounds to appeal the LEA's decision?

No, I'm fairly sure that your arrangements for outside school hours are of absolutely no interest whatsoever to the LEA.

The only exception to that MIGHT be if you or your child had exceptional needs which meant that you couldn't be expected to care for them for all of the hours he's not in school. But even then, it's far more likely that Social Services would be making respite arrangements, which again wouldn't be of interest to the LEA.

thebaileys

Thanks Sue, Im going to ring them in the morning, to see if he has been offered a place anywhere else.

I just feel so upset, my little boy loves all of his friends at nursery, and I think its going to be hard trying to explain to him that he is not going up to the 'Big School'.

I know they are only little, and make friends easily, but i still feel like crying.

I just keep thinking if only there were still the 45 places, then when I looked at last years applications there was a whopping 81!