School appeals - help offered

HappySad

Another question.. based in the selection of my local authority. Would I still have to live close to the school and would that be taken into account? I currently live about 1 mile away and those who currently get a place live 0.2 miles away from the school.Each place there are over 10 people putting it down as their first choice.

CharleneUK

I want to thank Hayley here, although I thanked her via PM, I think it's a great thing to do

Does anyone have a format on writing these, or is it just basics paragraphs? Silly question maybe, but if you don't ask!!

hayleyjg

Suzannewysiwyg – the School Admissions Code of Practice is the document that sets out the rules and regulations relating to school admissions. You can find it on the web at https://www.dfes.gov.uk/sacode . Paragraph 7.26 deals with withdrawing offers of places and sets out the limited circumstances in which this can be done. The paragraph states “It would not generally be lawful for an admission authority to withdraw a school place once the child was attending that school, except where that place was fraudulently obtained. “

For anyone appealing, you will also find on that website a link to the School Admission Appeals Code of Practice which sets out how admission appeals should be run.

Happysad – based on the oversubscription criteria you posted, medical needs take a higher priority than distance so if you were successful with your application on the basis of medical needs you would take a higher priority then those living close to the school.

hayleyjg

Charlene -I have learnt so much from this forum and been given some good advice by other MoneySavers I just wanted to help out in an area I know somehting about.

I don't have a format for an appeal. I would advise anyone to type them, use short paragraphs and don't make them too long but cover all of the points you want to raise. Ben Rooney's book (that man should pay me commission!!) has a sample appeal at the backk which I think looks pretty good.

Karrie

CharleneUK wrote: »

I want to thank Hayley here, although I thanked her via PM, I think it's a great thing to do :)QUOTE]

I agree. I have thanked Hayley in PM and, although she is very busy at the moment, she has helped with reading my appeal, her advise has been invaluable and a great help. It's been a horrible time for me and my son over the last few weeks and I haven't focused on anything else. To have someone offer their help and advise has been a God send for me. Ben Rooneys book is worth the money too. Anyway, my appeal was sent off yesterday and I can do no more until I hear back from the authority.

I wish everyone luck in their appeals.

Thanks again Hayley. :beer: You've been a STAR!

HappySad

Good luck Karrie with your application and I hope it goes in your favour for your child. Hayley your advice/info/support is completely invaluable and it worth a million pounds. You are helping us through what is a very stressful and anxious situation. Our children would get the best chance of getting into our choosen school.I am considering renting for 6m-12months closer to the school during the applicaiton phase and while I rent my home. The if/when place is allocated move back. Is this OK to do? Would this be fraud? I have heard of parents doing this and it was also mentioned in a parent's glossy magazine.

hayleyjg

HappySad - You would need to be careful about renting close to the school during your application. Certainly in my authority we check the address given with that registered with the current school and where there is a difference we may, in the case of an oversubscribed school, look closer at the change of address. If we believe that the address change is fraudulent in any way, we can (and do) withdraw the offer of a place. I am aware that many other authorities routinely ask for proof of address and will investigate any they are suspicious about. Finally each year my Admissions officers get a number of telephone calls and letters ( sometimes anonymous) from people informing on other parents they suspect of having a false address.

In your case I would want to see the tenancy agreement for the home you were renting and the agreement realting to your own property. I would also want proof you were living at the rented property such as bank statements, utility bill etc.

HappySad

I would move completely to this renting address for the application and this would be my home for that time. so I would have an estate agent tenancy, council tax and all bills and statements as this would be our home during the rented period.

silvercar

There was a court case about 5 years ago, maybe more, where someone had fraudulently applied for a school place by using a friends address. The court ruled that if the child hadn't started school the place could be withdrawn but once the child had attended school the interest of the child were paramount and the place could not be withdrawn.

I'm sure that leaves a lot of people holding their breathe over the summer holidays!

Ms_Chocaholic

hayleyjg wrote: »

A school must allocate places up to the schools Published Admission Number so if it is 30 then 30 places must be offered. Schools are not allowed by law to reserve places for anyone. Any children admitted by an appeal panel are above the number already in the school. Appeal panels can allow as many appeals as they feel are appropriate ands the school must admit the children.

Has this been the case for the past nine years .... just wondered as I submitted an appeal to the LA in respect of my son's admission to a secondary school on the basis of bullying (we lived outside of the catchment area at the time). As I recall, the reason given for the appeal not being upheld was due to the maximum number of places at the school already being filled.