School appeals - help offered

Savvy_Sue

milliebear00001 wrote: »

What exactly are parents to do about getting their children to school on time, given that she will only be able to get DD2 to school approximately fifteen mins late each day? I make that 47 hours lost over the school year.

Find out what the earliest is that each child can be left at the school, and plan to do that. An increasing number of schools have breakfast clubs. Make arrangements with other parents to share the getting to school routine. Move the older child to the same school as the younger child.

silvercar

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Well, I'm not 100% sure either, BUT if the child is more often at one address than at another, then it makes sense to use the address they're at rather than the one they're not at.

It might be that the grandparents would have to make the application. It would be complicated. But then it sounds as if it's complicated anyway.

Not only is it not ethical it is also fraud. Think about it. Anyone with a grandparent or aunt living near a preferred school could suddenly decide that the relative provides care and use that address. If the relative really was the home for the child, they would claim the child benefit and receive maintenance from the non resident parent(s).

Savvy_Sue

silvercar wrote: »

Not only is it not ethical it is also fraud. Think about it. Anyone with a grandparent or aunt living near a preferred school could suddenly decide that the relative provides care and use that address. If the relative really was the home for the child, they would claim the child benefit and receive maintenance from the non resident parent(s).

And that's why I said I wasn't sure about it. You could well be right, BUT russco said:

russco_pico wrote: »

and i would say lives there for 70% of the week.

If he'd thought about this BEFORE putting in the application, using the grandparents address (or the grandparents putting in the application) MIGHT have been the way to go.

However, as things stand, I think he has no grounds for appeal. Again, I could be wrong.

What's the waiting list like?

cimeow

Hi my lil one did not get into any of her 3 reception primary schools. The school they have given me I would need to take 2 buses, to walk is quite far, although there is a short cut though the canal (could you imagine taking her home through this in winter after the aterschool club, when my preferred choice school I could walk to and one bus?). I did a near trial run but they were people with tier vicious dogs near the bridge and conspicuous people hanging around so intimidating hanging in gangs. I turned back and headed home (as I suffer with anxiety).

So on the form which states whether i want to take the place offered or appeal. Is it wise for me to put my daughters name on this undesired school as well as appealing. My case is too detailed to relay at mo but going for maladministration, as the council website says that one of my school choices is closer, but eadmissions site says no.

also prejudice due to my background and condition etc

so is it wise to put her name down on this school ven though we may not be able to physically go there?

silvercar

so is it wise to put her name down on this school ven though we may not be able to physically go there?

The local authority should provide transport to and from school if the school is more than 2 miles away and you have applied and not been accepted at your nearest school. This is usually in the form of a minicab with an escort who is CRB checked. If there are more children from your area going to the school it would be in the form of a minibus or coach.

Obviously you will appeal for the school(s) you want, but when deciding whether to reject the school you have been allocated, consider what you would do if you are not successful at appeal. Having rejected your allocated school what would you do?

squashy

cimeow wrote: »

Hi my lil one did not get into any of her 3 reception primary schools. The school they have given me I would need to take 2 buses, to walk is quite far, although there is a short cut though the canal (could you imagine taking her home through this in winter after the aterschool club, when my preferred choice school I could walk to and one bus?). I did a near trial run but they were people with tier vicious dogs near the bridge and conspicuous people hanging around so intimidating hanging in gangs. I turned back and headed home (as I suffer with anxiety).

So on the form which states whether i want to take the place offered or appeal. Is it wise for me to put my daughters name on this undesired school as well as appealing. My case is too detailed to relay at mo but going for maladministration, as the council website says that one of my school choices is closer, but eadmissions site says no.

also prejudice due to my background and condition etc

so is it wise to put her name down on this school ven though we may not be able to physically go there?

Firstly, use google earth to measure the routes to both schools for yourself, rather than relying on a website which probably automatically calculates by road.

Secondly, I'm afriad you won't really be able to use the reasons you said about unsavoury people and dogs. However if you have a doctors statement with a specific anxiety condition for example that may help.

Thirdly, you need to contact the school/LA and ask for a copy of their admissions criteria if you haven't done so already, this will help you look into your argument for a place.

cimeow

Many thanks, trying to arrange advocacy to fight the appeal as well.

gs1967

Hi, my son did not get into any of the secondary schools I put down for him. I have put in my notice of appeal and I'm waiting for a date.

The school I wanted him to go to is the closest to our home, but not our catchment school. It is a specialised science and technology school, so I'm making that the main basis of appeal as this is what he is interested in, although he is in the top group in all of his subjects (he has just got 5b's in the mock sats across all). Plus, the school did not meet it's targets for these subject so I can say he'll be an asset there.

Anyway, I've asked his teacher if she will write a sort of reference/recommendation for him to back the appeal up, which she said she would be glad to do. Then she said, actually, if I write what I want her to say, she'll add to it and sign it.

So. I don't know where to start or what to put. Well, without it sounding like "my super special snowflake son should be allowed to come to your school because he's really clever".

Can anyone help, start me off, tell me what to put and what not to put? Please?

Savvy_Sue

I suggest you look at the LEA's guidelines for making an appeal. I am not sure that being interested in a subject is a reason to appeal for him going to a specialist school, because ALL schools have to offer the whole curriculum - mine were at a humanities specialist school and have absolutely NO interest in the that side of education, being scientists to the core. Didn't stop them getting excellent results.

I'm sure that within this thread there are details of what possible grounds for appeal are, if you can't easily get them from the LEA. But I believe you need to demonstrate that the school he's been allocated CANNOT meet his needs, or is not suitable in some fundamental way, and I don't think being good at science and it being the closest school is going to get you very far.

gs1967

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I suggest you look at the LEA's guidelines for making an appeal. I am not sure that being interested in a subject is a reason to appeal for him going to a specialist school, because ALL schools have to offer the whole curriculum - mine were at a humanities specialist school and have absolutely NO interest in the that side of education, being scientists to the core. Didn't stop them getting excellent results.

I'm sure that within this thread there are details of what possible grounds for appeal are, if you can't easily get them from the LEA. But I believe you need to demonstrate that the school he's been allocated CANNOT meet his needs, or is not suitable in some fundamental way, and I don't think being good at science and it being the closest school is going to get you very far.

Thanks, I know, but I may as well try even if it doesn't get me anywhere.

The school he has been allocated has just been taken off special measures and is closing in 2015 anyway. My son's intake year is the final one and this time next year we WILL be in the catchment area for the school he wants anyway.

It's going to cost nothing but my time and if I don't at least try, I'll regret it.