Dr challoners headteacher

Well it’s a school that wants to serve local people. I do think 4 years is a substantial amount of time but there is another grammar school that serves a similar area. So parents who move can apply there as long as they are resident by 31 October of the year before DC intends to start at the school. That’s hardly a hardship!

Thankyou @BubblesBuddy a factual reply finally! I was aware of this complaint. The 4 year rule is very prejudiced in my view. Imagine if someone moves into the area because of a new job and is rejected by default.

DRCG also had to slightly change its admission policy in 2018 after a complaint to the school adjudicator about second homes. The school won on most issues raised in the complaint but had to soften its line on residency in the catchment area. It is very difficult to stop well off people cheating to get a place at this school! This is what the school has sought to do.

DRCG will get their fair share of parents like this! It comes with the territory in South Bucks and ultra pushy parents tend to live in that area. It’s been like that for years! There won’t be black marks in the Register. It will be a clean slate.

Never had to worry about appeals personally, I’ve just seen from experience that starting off with a school in an adversarial way doesn’t always end well.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn @Maladicta you sound bitter. I am not sure why. Have you lost a school appeal or did your child not get into a school of choice as it certainly sounds that way!?

No one asked anyone to jump through hoops. Thankfully, The appeal outcome is a decision based on intelligent argument and law than a bitter mum from mumsnet!

My post is there to assist people on appeal, not to try to give the wrong advice to people ( nor to be bitter - no names mentioned!!!)

If this is your attitude at the start of their school career I feel rather sorry for the school...

Well, I feel a bit sorry for them to be honest. God only knows what hoops you will be demanding they jump through for you and your child over the next few years. You sound incredibly entitled when all the mistakes were entirely your fault.

To all of you who stated that " you made a mistake on the form so tough luck you won't win"
Thankyou to all the useful replies to my post.

I can tell you that I won my appeal for TWO spaces at dcgs. By law, if a mistake is made on a form, it is allowed to be rectified. Any form which is submitted, can be replaced and resubmitted- regardless of deadline. It is unlawful for any
" body" to act unreasonably or partially. Dcgs did not allow a mistake to be rectified and nowhere on the form does it state that if you fill the form incorrectly/inaccurately your place is in jeopardy.

Another thing, seeking legal advice, for me was invaluable. It certainly ruffled feathers for the panel ( and rubbed them up the wrong way) but if a procedural error is made by an appeal clerk, this is the only thing which would help at the next stage at the ombudsman/judicial review and therefore does provide back up.

I do believe that dcgs somewhat play hard and fast with admissions rules as someone was allowed into the school in the third round who lived out of catchment(rule 6)!

I do think the 4 year catchment rule is wholly unfair and this needs to be looked at via the ombudsman/ judicial review

Key documents for anyone undergoing appeal

School admissions policy
Coordinated admissions arrangements
School code of admissions
The appeal code for school admissions

OUTCOME: appeal was upheld. Both twins got the place at dcgs. I think we can agree that most people on here did not think I would win this. The appeal was simple and legally based. If a mistake is made, it should be allowed to be rectified and timing is everything in reacting to a mistake. Details will follow shortly or I may do on a separate post

@underneaththeash I wasn't 'found out' - I asked them- my fault is that I supplied evidence late. They accepted the evidence but they said it was submitted too late- Let the appeal decide!

@HugoSpritz people do when someone pops up! There are an enormous amount of trolls on here.

OP - of course you need to go to appeals, you didn't submit your application correctly and you were found out, what did you expect?

@ HugoSpritz I've just been reading your posts that you have responded to in the past! Do you do respond to random posts for fun? 😂😂

I think he is referring to libel where you have identified a person and implied he unfairly dismissed your application.

@HugoSpritz the school is not involved in the appeals process. Why would their attention be drawn to the thread when I have raised the issue with them direct and the matter is under appeal. The reason for the thread is to ask other people's opinion based on the experience that they have had. The question is whether the matter had to go to appeal when evidence was supplied. Prh has given me advice via private message and what makes you think I haven't taken on board all the Other comments?

The policy not being legal would be something you would challenge at appeal. The onus is on you to provide the evidence to do this.

The rules are very clear and have been there for some time. There is a process you will now have to follow, regardless of what your particular circumstances are - the head individually does not decide, there's an admissions panel. There is a bit of movement each year but not that much, certainly with two Dc you may be better off looking to CGS or RGS.