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Original poster

Didn't get preferred school

35 replies

sugarbabe73 · 01/03/2011 09:42

hi i live in Essex my son's first choice was sandon school chelmsford but he has been allocated william de ferrers, South woodham ferrers> he is very upset and we want to appeal as all his friends are going to Sandon. Any tips on how to appeal and what to give as my reasons

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 01/03/2011 13:32

You do, of course, have the right to appeal. If you do you will get plenty of free advice on here from people who understand how the admissions system works.

The first question to look at is whether the LA has made a mistake. For example, have they placed your child in the wrong admission category. If they haven't it will be down to balance of prejudice. That means you have to show that the prejudice to your child through not being admitted to the preferred school outweighs the prejudice to the school from admitting an additional pupil. You therefore need to concentrate on things the preferred school offers which the allocated school doesn't and which would be particularly useful to your child. Talking about how awful the allocated school is won't help your case. Things like friends going to the preferred school, transport problems, childcare problems and the like generally don't help you to win appeals.

Personally I would avoid the services that charge you money for helping with appeals. You are generally better off doing it all yourself.

Original poster
sugarbabe73 · 01/03/2011 12:50

It was his catchment school that he didn't get into. Thanks for advice i will ring and get put on waiting list.

OP posts:
Themumsnot · 01/03/2011 11:24

We had ours by email first thing this morning.
Not that we had a choice of school. DD will be going to the catchment comp.

coatgate · 01/03/2011 11:20

Doesn't your post come early? Ours does not arrive until after lunchtime so will not know DDs school until much later...............

LauraPhoenix · 01/03/2011 11:16

My DS1 didn't get his preferred school either.

We are very upset.

I too am looking at appealing. I've been looking around for advice and guides and there are a few sites out there. I bought it from www.schoolappeals.net in case anyone is interested. I haven't had a chance to read it though.

coccyx · 01/03/2011 10:51

What grounds would you appeal on though?
Not possible for every child to get their first choice

AliceBBC · 01/03/2011 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

mummytime · 01/03/2011 10:02

The first thing to do is to get your sons name put on the waiting list for his preferred school and any other schools you would prefer to the one offered. Then decide if you are going to appeal. If you are you need to start that fairly soon (the book How to Win your School Apppeal can help).

However it ha never been guaranteed that everyone gets their first choice, and would actually be impossible. Schools are not infinitely expandable.

MappandLucia · 01/03/2011 10:01

Sorry for you both. This was me this time last year - we got none of our 3 'choices'.

We went to appeal and won so am happy to advise.

Don't to be too disheartened at this stage though as there is always lots of movement on the continued interest lists (we were just really unlucky).

mumof4sons · 01/03/2011 09:57

I also live in Essex. My son didn't get any of his 3 choices. We were allocated a place at a really crap school in the area. I am fuming.

What happened to 'every child should get the place of their choice'?