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Original poster

Waiting list or appeal?

31 replies

Jotim02 · 04/03/2017 21:19

My daughter hasn't got into our preferred school, we have been given the lower attaining local one rather than the COfE city centre one. We were in the first church going category but people got in who lived nearer.

She is 6th on the waiting list before late applications, there are 200 students in each year. Do you think she will get in, do you think we should appeal?

We have a number of friends who are appealing... my daughter is happy, bright, confident, she loves music and the school we want her to go to is very musical as opposed to the local school - but I can't think of a single good reason why she should get a place more than someone who lives closer. Am I missing something here! Why is everyone else appealing? Of course I want her to go to the better school but it's a process which has been carried out objectively and we didn't win...

OP posts:
Doowappydoo · 04/03/2017 23:28

You must appeal - if the first stage is successful - i.e the school can take additional pupils without prejudice then whoever has appealed will get in ahead of those on the waiting list. It's very possible the first stage won't be successful - but sometimes it is- if not you can decide whether you want to participate in the second stage and argue that the prejudice to your particular child outweighs the prejudice to the school.

PanelChair · 04/03/2017 23:20

Really, pieceofpurplesky? There's something very odd going on - either at the admissions stage or at the appeal panel or even both - if the school is losing that number of appeals every year.

PanelChair · 04/03/2017 23:16

OP seems to be aware that late applicants could join the waiting list above her.

I tend to think: why not exercise your right to appeal?

pieceofpurplesky · 04/03/2017 23:14

The school I work in has 230 in a year and work on the basis that 10/15 will get in on appeal. We are a CofE school.

BarbarianMum · 04/03/2017 23:07

6th on the waiting list is pretty good (though she may move down as well as up).

Lots of people appeal because they don't understand the system - then they get cross/dispondent because it didn't work. You can try to appeal on the basis of her music if you can demonstrate her love of it (instrument grades, plays in bands or orchestra) , it won't hurt, but honestly I think the waiting list is going to be your best bet.

PanelChair · 04/03/2017 23:04

You are (forgive me for saying so) commendably clear-sighted about the situation.

It doesn't sound as if there has been any error - I'm assuming from what you say that no children were admitted from categories lower than yours, and that they had to draw the line just above you. Being 6th on the waiting list at schools near me would probably mean you would get in via the waiting list, because we're in an area with a lot of churn, but it could be very different where you are, so listen to the local grapevine.

If you decide to appeal, it's not about deserving (for want of a better word) a place more than a child who lives nearer. It's about aguing why this school is better able to meet your child's needs and why the prejudice (ie disadvantage) to them in not attending would outweigh the prejudice to the school in taking another pupil. If your child is musical and the music provision is demonstrably better - more instruments taught, more bands and orchestras etc - that might be the basis of an arguable appeal. Whether it would succeed would depend on whether you could identify other reasons too for needing a place at this school and the relative strength's of your case and the school's case for not admitting.