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Original poster

Oversubscription Secondary Appeals - admitting over PAN

30 replies

Shattered04 · 07/03/2018 10:07

As mentioned elsewhere, DD missed out by 64m (on a nearly six mile distance) to get into her chosen school. We are going to appeal*

We have solid reasons for wanting her there rather than our local comprehensive. She has ASD, and her best friend got in and she didn't, and she has social difficulties, plus the SEN provision is far better. We also have some sound, convincing academic reasons for things this school offers that our local doesn't that DD is talented in, so I'm hoping we have a decent case based on that.

However, from looking through the history back until 2015, the school has never admitted over PAN. And for appeals in our situation in that county, only 13% were successful last year.

What kind of counters can I use if the PAN has not been exceeded historically? Do we even have a chance?

Thank you!!

*whilst hoping against hope we get a waiting list place, but there was no change in the distance last year

OP posts:
Original poster
Shattered04 · 07/03/2018 13:05

Thank you both! Much appreciated.

Yes, it's a Grammar (academy - are they all?) - we're just over the border in a non-Grammar county, so it is Grammar v Comp.

DD's ASD is so recently diagnosed (but long suspected.. it just took this long to get the diagnosis of course) that we haven't even got the report yet. I have spoken to the assessment centre and they've put a note for the doctor asking them to elaborate more on her social needs at secondary, given our situation. They did talk in some detail with me during the feedback that they really felt she would be much better suited to a Grammar (and why - more structure, calmer, her abilities etc) and how important it was that she stayed with her best friend so she could have a solid base on which to reach out socially, so I'm hopeful they'll be able to put something in writing to that effect.

The Ofsteds for both schools suggest the SEN provision is superior at the Grammar, and lacking, especially in an academic sense, at the Comprehensive. There is also a very good bullying policy which is effective (according to children we know at the school) at the Grammar, but the Ofsted for the Comprehensive has several references to less than ideal behaviour. Her ASD makes her more vulnerable to bullying and even if she is never bullied, knowing the policy is effective will really help her confidence. These are all things I will be pulling out of course!

The Progress 8 scores for high attainers are drastically different, and hardly anyone does triple Science versus everyone at her preferred school, and they also on average do one extra GCSE. There is also no way she can do a foreign language and computer science at her allocated school for GCSE, and these are both a huge deal to her based on interest and talent. Same for extra curricular clubs - like many children with ASD, computers are her "thing" and there are no clubs I could see on the website for her allocated school - I will have to confirm this though. There are five clubs at her preferred school.

That's exactly what worries me - that they will say everything is set up for 30. I wouldn't blame them either! They have historically been undersubscribed until 3-4 years ago, so it's unlikely they'd be over PAN back then, nor expect to be.

The room sizes is a good idea, I'll look into that.

Even though I know it is extremely unlikely, is there any chance at all they could be wrong with the distance, e.g. used the wrong gate or whatever? How could I check it? (it's straight line) It's such a tiny amount it has to be worth a look over.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 07/03/2018 12:33

"Obviously they’ve set a precedent there but going forward they must be sure they can accommodate those levels." - well, the appeals Panel thought they could anyway! Unless the school rolled over and basically didn't present a case, which is possible - more students = more money, so it occasionally happens....

PatriciaHolm · 07/03/2018 12:32

When you say "local comprehensive", do you mean that the school you want her to go to is a Grammar? In which case your case may be slightly different.

If not, then you are trying to make a case that the detriment to her of not attending is greater than the detriment to the school of taking another child. So, as you say, you are looking at things that make this school ideal for her - so subject it offers she excels in that she cannot get at the school she has been allocated, extra cirrculars.

A letter from a medical professional saying that her ASD means that she needs the support of good friends etc. will carry weight - you just saying it won't. Similarly, you need evidence of the SEN support she needs and that the school can provide it (the default assumption is that all schools can support children with ASD, and/or SEN). Everything needs evidence, not just your opinion.

The school's case will probably run along the lines that it is set up for this PAN, classrooms are designed for 30 per tutor group, they only have 30 computers in the IT suite, etc etc. Not taking over PAN means it's harder to prove that one more wouldn't cause issues as you can't call on precedent (ie. "you took extra last year and there haven't been any accidents etc), but you can look at room sizes, typical class sizes for GCSE etc.

Rewn7 · 07/03/2018 12:16

Meant to add, they had never taken that many before. A sudden first for them.

Rewn7 · 07/03/2018 12:15

I know an expert will be along shortly but speaking of our own experience...

DD’s school took 20 over PAN at appeal this year. Obviously they’ve set a precedent there but going forward they must be sure they can accommodate those levels.