If you’ve appealed for secondary, have you got an appeal date yet?

Oh no. I’m so sorry you didn’t get your appeal. Really hope you find a positive solution.x

Well done Joanna I'm so pleased you've found some light.

We were unsuccessful and although I didn't have any strong feelings either way for success or not, we are still gobsmacked. We had an amazing letter from the gp, written exceptionally well and we know in our hearts we did our best and had a good appeal. Just once again, the system has failed our child. But after 9 years if fighting we are kind of getting used to that

Good luck to anyone still waiting

One week on we feel like we are in a better place. I got my son added to a couple of waiting lists after sending out some panic emails the night we found out. Fours days later we secured a place at another faith school around the corner from the first preference. We had initially dismissed the school as not being worth our consideration. I believe we judged unfairly as it’s results compare well with our first preference and has far superior sporting facilities, which my son is in to. Everything happens for a reason and although it’s not the outcome we wanted, my son is happy and that’s what counts. He now says he thinks he wouldn’t take the first school (still on their waiting list at number 8) because they don’t deserve him!! We still have another new waiting list option, but it’s much further away... On balance, it has been an awful 3 months and my heart goes out to everyone who has found themselves in our situation. I think we have at last found our light at the end of a dark and stressful tunnel. Good luck to everyone.

Unfortunately no. It was a faith school and we hit every criteria except this year we were 723 metres too far out on oversubscription for the top category. We were at one of the named feeder primaries and were trying to argue psychological and faith reasons. Plus the fact our son is bright at maths and that they are a maths specialist school. The presenting officer for the school (the head) even said herself in the hearing that we had a strong case. Panel obviously didn’t agree and we had the worst worded letter I have ever read from them yesterday, rejecting our appeal. Badly phrased, appalling grammar and spelling mistakes galore. Those were the people who judged us. Sorry. I’m just so upset and don’t know what to do next for the best.

Sorry to hear that Joanna. Did you have any extenuating circumstances?

Devastated to find out our appeal was not upheld by the panel. I’m at a loss of what to do next. I hope there’s some positive outcomes for you others going through the same agony.

Good luck Joanna!

There's no way we will all be sent through, I don't know how many are appealing. I think a few from my son's school but no substantial grounds really.

We are the same no idea what we will do! It night have to be home school again for a while but I'm not overly happy about that really.

Completely feel and understand your pain. We had our appeal hearing today. Feel a mixture of relief the panel is over, but dread that there seems to be little else we can do if it doesn’t go our way. Our panel were very nice and even the school’s presenting officer said we had a strong case and had no questions for us. Good luck everybody.

Yes feel the same protractor. Just can't even imagine what will happen really. Good luck let me know how you get on

We have ours now. 6th June and feel.sick as anything

Finally got all our info through today. It's in June. Not sure I feel any better though

Thanks - in the end they waved us all through. The school was on our side though. Yippee.

Fingers crossed you'll get it on Monday Protractor It's so stressful waiting

I was getting twitchy as I hadn't heard anything, wasn't sure if it was outside protocol but I rang them up to see if something had gone out but we hadn't received it.

The person I spoke to said they were just about to go out but could confirm the date and time of our hearing. Then the day after I got an email with the relevant info, including the startling (to me) news that we were expected to go up twice. The email included an attachment which explained why the secondary school didn't want to exceed its PAN, which was fair enough but seemed to believe the addition of any further kids would result in chaos all round, kids turning feral, health and safety compromised, total disaster whichever way you look

I was considering countering their arguments in this respect, as part of our case for that school being the only one our DS will thrive in, but DH seems to think there isn't anything further to be gained. I don't know if this is the case, I was all prepared to write another probably crap report.

Strangely, another mum who appealed for this school last year (and won her appeal, yay) said she received this document from the appealed for school immediately after allocation day, she was able to use it in her argument for the appeal reasons sent to the panel initially. I'm wondering why now they have only sent it long after I lodged my appeal...?

The Appeals Code says you must be notified of the appeal date at least 10 days before the hearing.

Same here too protractor. I did manage to speak to another parent (I don't know her) in our la who is also appealing for a different school a d she hasn't heard anything yet either. Sigh.