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Appeals - LA not giving information.

9 replies

jellysmum77 · 30/04/2013 16:22

Hi just a quick bit of advice please.
We are putting together an appeal for my son as we did not get the first choice school. The letter we received was fairly vague just stating that application was rejected within the school's admission policy. We believe this to be a mistake but have asked for clarification on what particular part of the policy we were rejected on.
On my first phone call I was told I would be sent info on appeals but was only sent the forms.
On asking for this clarification through email we have received no reply, so my husband phoned them and was told they couldn't tell him on the phone he had to email. He explained we had and no reply and they said we would get a reply but it wouldn't be for a few days. In the meantime I am worried that we are running out of time to out together the appeal the later they leave it to give us any information.
Is this normal? Or should the LA be supplying information more readily?

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NynaevesSister · 30/04/2013 17:01

I don't know about this particular aspect but I am sure more knowledgeable members will be along soon. They will also be able to help you with the appeal where a mistake has been made. In the two years I have been on here I have seen them take many cases to a successful conclusion. Just wanted to give you my sympathies and say hang on in there!

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prh47bridge · 30/04/2013 18:06

Submit your appeal if you have not done so already. Don't wait for them to supply information. You don't need it. You can simply say you believe a mistake has been made and that you will add further information to your case when information is available.

The LA should have provided more information on the letter. Simply saying that you were rejected within the school's admission policy is not good enough.

They are required to answer any questions you ask to help you prepare for your appeal.

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jellysmum77 · 30/04/2013 18:11

Thank you very much. I don't think we really need it either but was just thinking it might help back us up. Your advice is much appreciated, just want to make sure we get this right!

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jellysmum77 · 01/05/2013 14:09

Hi again! Just thinking again about this and when you say they are required to answer any of our questions is it okay for them to say we must email any requests and get a reply in a few days or should they be able to answer some of the questions when we phone? Obviously some things may require them to look for information but I ask because I have not found them to be particularly helpful so far and reading other posts it seems that other LA's have been much more forth coming with information. I always feel like they are trying to get rid of me! I called on the offer day to ask about what I do next and was told just to send back the reply saying we don't want to allocated place and then she tried to hang up. It was only after my husband calling and kicking up a bit of a fuss that he was transferred and told about putting my son on a waiting list and appealing. I did not follow her advice as that would have resulted in my son having no school place at all!

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prh47bridge · 01/05/2013 15:50

I would always put requests for information in writing anyway. That way I have proof of my question and the LA's answer. It also means I should get an answer from someone who understands the system - the phone tends to be answered by relatively junior staff who sometimes give very poor answers.

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jellysmum77 · 01/05/2013 15:57

Thank you. Yes this seems to be the experience I have had.

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admission · 01/05/2013 21:25

Please make sure everything is in writing. I have lost count of the number of appeals I have done where the parent says something happened and the LA says the opposite. The LA keep good records and if you have no evidence to show an appeal panel at the end of the day the panel will always have to make decisions on the evidence available. If the LA give you answers on the telephone, make a note of what is said and then email then back confirming what has been said and what your understanding of the situation is.
I am not saying the LA is wrong, in many instances it is about confused messages that are interpreted differently and in such situations, you need to be very clear and very precise.

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jellysmum77 · 01/05/2013 21:41

Thank you for your advice. This is being made more difficult because we are dealing with 2 different LA's. We are putting together a bank of evidence at the moment printing off emails, letters and policies.

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jellysmum77 · 02/05/2013 13:36

Ok, I have posted the appeal today with the evidence we have so far. Any we receive later I will submit as soon as I receive it. Still no reply from LA. Thanks again.

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