DS didn't get allocated our first preference school, which is the village school. It's the first year ever that children living in the village weren't all offered a place. We've established that there are 4 children who live in the village who didn't get a place. We are the only one on our side of the village - all other children on our estate got in. The 4 children have been allocated places at 3 different schools. All 4 parents are appealing but we are also getting together to put pressure on the school (academy), diocese (it's a CofE school although faith isn't part of their oversubscription criteria), MPs etc to accept them all. I have two main questions, but any advice is gratefully received!
First, at appeal, has anyone actually won on the ground that the decision not to give the child a place was so perverse in light of the facts (or whatever the wording is!)? If so, what exactly was it that convinced the appeal panel? We are in a situation where there are 3 sets of twins in the year, which is a very unusual circumstance. If they let all 4 who didn't get a place in, it won't really be setting a precedent as it is hugely unlikely that there will be over 30 children next year, the village just isn't very big. Can we use that as an argument? What else can we use as an argument? I'm thinking isolation from village community, socially excluding him, emotionally damaging to him (he'll be heartbroken), DS already at preschool in village, allocated school has no before/after school provision, we can't walk there, we can't even park there to drop him off, etc.
Secondly, what info should I be asking the village school for? I've already asked what distance the last child to get in lives (0.28 miles), what distance we are (0.33 miles) where we are on the waiting list (4th), where they measure to on the child's home (front door/boundary of property etc - await a response as the school don't know) and whether those that have been offered places have to provide proof of address (await a response as the school don't know). What else can I request?
I don't know how likely it is that we will be successful at appeal, but I have to know that I've at least tried and have done the best I could for him.
Thanks if you've read this far
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Didn't get village school - appealing, but need your advice wise MNers!
78 replies
MillieMoodle · 19/04/2015 08:35
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