Schools admission appeals
Discussion
No idea, they dont give you that info.
My first choice was a faith school and we only fitted one criteria which was to be fair low down on their list. However they go on to say that if there are several people in the same position as you preferance will be given to the one/s closest to the school (using a map and ruler and straight line affair) However just discovered a friend of mine who fits into the same criteria as myself yet lives a lot further away than me (its on my doorstep) has got a space.....i am not happy
My first choice was a faith school and we only fitted one criteria which was to be fair low down on their list. However they go on to say that if there are several people in the same position as you preferance will be given to the one/s closest to the school (using a map and ruler and straight line affair) However just discovered a friend of mine who fits into the same criteria as myself yet lives a lot further away than me (its on my doorstep) has got a space.....i am not happy
Don't have any primary school experience but the parents of one of my sisters friends had to appeal for a middle school place for their eldest child.
In the end there were 8 families applying for 3 spare spaces, the parents we knew got one of those places. IIRC their arguments were:
- The child of the house next door got in to the school, they questioned why the border had been drawn between these two houses (and by next door I mean there's a small fence between then, not half a mile), and they were in the middle of the main road so not exactly living in the middle of nowhere away from the rest of the village.
- The school he was allocated was twice as far away as the one they had applied for. Both parents work and their offices were no where near the allocated school so getting him to the school would have involved having to re-arrange office hours.
- There was no bus service to the allocated school, but there was one to the school they wanted him to go for, I think they pointed out that in terms of the environment (yes, you can play it that way if you so wish) it was much better for him to use public transport.
- He was the only child from his school that hadn't been accepted, they were worried about the "emotional impact" it would have on him.
I'm not sure if the last one even really counts but they used it anyway. Basically just make several clear points, backed up with any evidence (in their case the question of why a "line" was drawn between two houses that were bang next door to each other) and don't go all "this is discrimination just because we're not practising Christians, if we were black you'd let him in!" etc etc.
As TheAxe pointed out, are you absolutely certain that your criteria are identical to this other person? Are you sure they don't have an older child at the school already (in most areas places are automatically granted to those children who already have siblings at the school), or that they don't go to the church?
In the end there were 8 families applying for 3 spare spaces, the parents we knew got one of those places. IIRC their arguments were:
- The child of the house next door got in to the school, they questioned why the border had been drawn between these two houses (and by next door I mean there's a small fence between then, not half a mile), and they were in the middle of the main road so not exactly living in the middle of nowhere away from the rest of the village.
- The school he was allocated was twice as far away as the one they had applied for. Both parents work and their offices were no where near the allocated school so getting him to the school would have involved having to re-arrange office hours.
- There was no bus service to the allocated school, but there was one to the school they wanted him to go for, I think they pointed out that in terms of the environment (yes, you can play it that way if you so wish) it was much better for him to use public transport.
- He was the only child from his school that hadn't been accepted, they were worried about the "emotional impact" it would have on him.
I'm not sure if the last one even really counts but they used it anyway. Basically just make several clear points, backed up with any evidence (in their case the question of why a "line" was drawn between two houses that were bang next door to each other) and don't go all "this is discrimination just because we're not practising Christians, if we were black you'd let him in!" etc etc.
As TheAxe pointed out, are you absolutely certain that your criteria are identical to this other person? Are you sure they don't have an older child at the school already (in most areas places are automatically granted to those children who already have siblings at the school), or that they don't go to the church?
MentalSarcasm said:
The child of the house next door got in to the school, they questioned why the border had been drawn between these two houses (and by next door I mean there's a small fence between then, not half a mile), and they were in the middle of the main road so not exactly living in the middle of nowhere away from the rest of the village.
To be fair though, although it may seem a bit daft (especially to those affected), a boundary has to be 'declared' somewhere.I'd echo what the others have said, are you absolutely sure that you match the same criteria as your friend - it's not just your perception?
Lemmonie said:
Has anyone been sucessful in a school admissions appeal for a primary school and if so can you give me any hints and advice?
Short answer is, you're boned, the appeal will fail..We appealed for my sons placement the reasons were...
1) The only school within 10 miles
2) One which had facilities for his learning difficulties
3) He had attended the school previously so was known and liked by teaching staff
4) due to said learning difficulty he can have difficulty socialising with other kids, and he had a couple of friends there which would ease his transition massively
And the answer was still no, now I may be biased but I think those are pretty good reasons...
He now goes to a school (which as luck would have it is excellent) about 12 miles away and is on the way to work for his mum.
I hate to say it, if I were you I'd bin the idea of the appeal, they are just going through the motions, it takes bloody ages and if you put your child in a school elsewhere in the meantime they will just say "he's at a school now, he can stay there" (hence I homeschooled my son for 6-8 weeks while the appeal went through and we waited for a hearing).
In summary the appeal process is a waste of time. The vast majority get denied. Get shopping around for a different school.
The friend in question is a very close friend so yes i know the facts.
The school is very much going against its own criteria and rules.
The school we have been allocated is right across town away from my home, work place and younger childs nursery, we cannot walk there and there is no direct transport links (ie several buses would take an hour each way)
The other local schools all have a Grade 3 Satisfactory OFSTED report and my child deserves as do i a better standard of education and facilities
The school is very much going against its own criteria and rules.
The school we have been allocated is right across town away from my home, work place and younger childs nursery, we cannot walk there and there is no direct transport links (ie several buses would take an hour each way)
The other local schools all have a Grade 3 Satisfactory OFSTED report and my child deserves as do i a better standard of education and facilities
Lemmonie said:
The friend in question is a very close friend so yes i know the facts.
The school is very much going against its own criteria and rules.
The school we have been allocated is right across town away from my home, work place and younger childs nursery, we cannot walk there and there is no direct transport links (ie several buses would take an hour each way)
The other local schools all have a Grade 3 Satisfactory OFSTED report and my child deserves as do i a better standard of education and facilities
I wouldn't go on OFSTED reports alone.The school is very much going against its own criteria and rules.
The school we have been allocated is right across town away from my home, work place and younger childs nursery, we cannot walk there and there is no direct transport links (ie several buses would take an hour each way)
The other local schools all have a Grade 3 Satisfactory OFSTED report and my child deserves as do i a better standard of education and facilities
Maybe in the short term its a good option and then go on the waiting list for the faith school, thats if you are not successful with the appeal. Your child may have to wait a few terms but once he/she is in then the next one can go in as a siblings.
Thats the problem with putting a good school as your first option which you have little chance of getting into and then being given the scraps after being unsuccessful.
Our son went to the local village school, then we moved away for a couple of years before moving back. Once we got back the school was full and he was denied a place so we had to appeal.
The missus went along to the panel and had to present her case (this was about 8-9 years ago now, it may have changed).
Treat it like a job interview, i.e. don't just tell them what you want and what they can do for you, but let them know what a little angel your child is and how he/she would be an asset to the school (don't overdo it though!). Ours is a C of E school, so faith school with a small "f" relatively I suppose. Our son was taken back again at the appeal.
The missus went along to the panel and had to present her case (this was about 8-9 years ago now, it may have changed).
Treat it like a job interview, i.e. don't just tell them what you want and what they can do for you, but let them know what a little angel your child is and how he/she would be an asset to the school (don't overdo it though!). Ours is a C of E school, so faith school with a small "f" relatively I suppose. Our son was taken back again at the appeal.
st_files said:
fulham911club said:
st_files said:
Do you really want your kid at a school run by nutters?
And what is this insightful comment based on?Although it has to be said that they're nearly always better than the local comp...
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