School appeals - help offered

Savvy_Sue

Silverbird, do you have a certificate of posting for the first set of forms? Without it, I'm not sure how you would 'prove' that you did indeed submit the forms on time.

Savvy_Sue

stormy-weathers wrote: »

Hi All

I wondered if there was anyone on the board who has experience of
exclusion appeal hearings at both the Governing body and Independent appeal hearing stages.

I've only just come across this helpful thread so thought i would ask.

No, but are you in touch with Parent Partnership (google that plus your area) and, if appropriate, IPSEA?

SILVERBIRD_3

Hi Savvy Sue, no I didn't send it recorded delivery and therefore have no proof of postage although I did point out to the person that I spoke with that they didn't have any proof that my application hadn't been received and lost during adminstration procedures. I am not in the habit of telling untruths and having already applied for a school place for my son am all too aware of the application process and deadlines.

I moved my daughter out of private nursery last year, to attend the pre-school on site at the school! She also attends breakfast club, after school club and holiday club with her brother. We live in the catchment area and the ONLY reason that she was not allocated a place at the school was that the 2ND application was marked as late.

I've placed her on the waiting list (she's the first one on it, not that that counts for anything). I really could do with some advice on how to handle the appeal and what points to raise that may "tick" the relevant boxes of an appeal panel...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. xx

alm721

Silverbird- when did you contact the LEA for a second set of forms, when did you return them and when did you get the letter informing you of placement?

SILVERBIRD_3

I contacted them on 17th & 18th January, the party that I was at speaking with the other parents was on 16th January and the deadline for applications to be in was 15th January. I returned the 2nd application on 18th January by email and received the placement letter this weekend.

alm721

Bens mum, who told you what evidence would be acceptable, was it the lea or the school, did you get anything in writing? If other children from out of catchment have got in then you have not been given any preference. Is there another school that is nearer on a similar route (flat etc) as this would weaken your argument. Just trying to think of your best way to fight this.

alm721

SILVERBIRD wrote: »

I contacted them on 17th & 18th January, the party that I was at speaking with the other parents was on 16th January and the deadline for applications to be in was 15th January. I returned the 2nd application on 18th January by email and received the placement letter this weekend.

If they recieved the forms on 18th January and have only just sent the letter out, then it would seem unlikely that as of 18th January they had already allocated all places? Given the circumstances it seems very unfair that you have not got a place if they are stating that it is only because of a late application. I would be inclined to email or write to them (paper trail), and ask for their policy on recieving late applications and stress again, that you sent it on time etc and were not aware that it hadn't been recieved.

The book by Ben Rooney on 'how to win your childs appeal' may be helpful. I have a copy upstairs I'll go and have a look and see if it mentions later applications.

JC9297

SILVERBIRD wrote: »

Hi All - as many of you are writing I too have been declined a place at the school that I wanted my 4 year old daughter to attend in September even though her brother goes to the school the reason for this is as follows, and any advice on whether you think I would be able to challenge the decision at appeal due to their extremely unfair decision in marking my 2ND application as LATE!

I completed the relevant application form as required and submitted this by mail at the end of November, well before the deadline, and assumed that this had been recieved by the authority. In mid January, in conversation with other parents, I learned that they had received confirmation of receipt of their forms. Given that I had not received any confirmation at all, I contacted the authority to ascertain the position. I was told not to worry as there were still a batch of receipts to be sent out, however, on further investigation on their part, I was informed that my application could not be found. As a result of this another set of forms was emailed to me, which I completed and returned the same day.



Subsequently, in conversation with with the authority I was informed that my application would be regarded as late, even though given the above circumstances, I had reacted as quickly as possible.



Considering the fact that my application forms were submitted on time, and were either lost in the post or in administrative procedures, I now find that through no fault of mine, I am in this disadvantageous position.

Whilst it is no help for you this serves as a warning to other parents, this is exactly why LAs don't recommend that you post applications. No it might not be your fault it didn't arrive, but it isn't the LA's either.

SILVERBIRD_3

Hi Alms721, I had cause to visit the Head at the school in relation to my son and mentioned the issue with my daughters application, she told me not to worry and that she'd looked at the stats just that day (will have to check when I went to see her) and that they had not received sufficient requests that Chloe would not be able to obtain a place!

I spoke with the admission department today and was told that it was purely due to the fact that the application had been marked late that she didn't get a place, they had not been made aware of the reasons surrounding the application being marked as late. I asked for their policy on receipt of late applications and what extenuating circumstances they accepted and the person that I spoke with would not actually commit any specific scenario apart from someone being hospitalised on the day of the deadline and therefore unable to submit the application for that reason, but they would have to consider why they hadn't applied before that date! Well I know it's only a scenario but if applying on 15th was still acceptable then how could they question why it hadn't been done sooner????

Appreciate your advice x

SILVERBIRD_3

JC9297 wrote: »

Whilst it is no help for you this serves as a warning to other parents, this is exactly why LAs don't recommend that you post applications. No it might not be your fault it didn't arrive, but it isn't the LA's either.

I really do dread to think what would be the case for parents that send them by post and DON'T include the stamped acknowledgement card as I did. They would have no idead at all, I was only alerted as other parents had received theirs! So you are very right it does serve as a warning!