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Original poster

Secondary appeal due in 4 days- bit of an issue

39 replies

FortisMum · 04/07/2021 11:17

Good morning,

I read the posts regarding the appeals for a secondary place, but I was looking for a more personalised piece of advice from you, if possible. I am overwhelmed and thought of seeking a solicitor's help, but after carefully analysing the comments on this forum, I decided to do it myself. However, any piece of advice helps.

The school I appeal for, the school I was assigned and the primary school he is currently attending are outstanding.

The school I make the appeal for is 0.8 miles away from us, with the cut-off distance for the last offer being 0.56 miles. PAN is 260, and all the places allocated- I received yesterday the letter with a breakdown. I am currently number 3 on the list- although this has been changing during the last 2 months- sometimes we are on the 4th place, sometimes on the 3rd place. It was one of the preferred schools. The school is a no-uniform one and it is well known for the heavy independent learning which he is well used with. It would be also easier in terms of commuting as I am due to change house in 4 months' time.

The school I was allocated had no transparency regarding their phone policy which is the main reason I need to change it. It was only after we had received the papers from them via post that we found out it was a strictly no-phone policy school. For my son, this poses a serious safety issue. He arrived here 2 years ago, he is a shy child and has a bit of attention deficit- however not labeled with ADHD. At the primary school he and the children are allowed to have a smartphone, which they hand in at the beginning of the school day and take home at the end, so I can track him down and talk to him, even though we live 5 mins walk from school.

I am a single parent that is currently working from home but due to start work in the office in September, and hence, will be arriving around 6pm at home- pick up will not be an option. Only way I can make sure he gets safe home, or keep an eye on him on the road should something happen- like taking the wrong bus or so- is for him to be allowed a block phone. Of course a tracker helps, but I cannot communicate with him through this means. The busses- that he needs to take home - in that school area come every 15 min, is a rather crowded area, they do not have live displays with timings and he is easily scared should one get delayed.

I understood from the interview we had with the school that certain exception could be made.However, following my email to the Y7 transition leader, I got 2 voice mails as a reply, stating that this is impossible and I am free to search for another school.Although I asked, as a courtesy, to have a reply in writing, this did not happen.Eventually, she replied asking to contact her.

I understand this is, up to a certain extent, a safety measure against theft, but to him this is more than a safety threat, the inconvenience is bigger that the advantage.

What plausible arguments could I use for appeal?If not this one? He is also bright science student- excels in math and science-but as far as I have read, arguments as easy commuting, friends at same school, better area or higher achievements are not taken into consideration. Also, I am aware I appeal for a school and not complain about the other school- but this I feel in this case this would be related?!

I know most would say not carrying a phone is not an issue- but it actually IS for us.

Any ideas on how/if I could present my case to the school I appeal for?

I do apologies as this is a long read, but I wanted to give you all the details I could think of. I am literally horrified at the thought he might need to contact me and won't be able to do so. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read this through.

OP posts:
laselvar · 04/07/2021 15:50

I think the only chance you have is getting an Ed psych letter stating that your son needs access to a mobile phone at the end of the day due to additional needs. The fact that he has no diagnosed additional needs may make this tricky.

Barwell76 · 04/07/2021 15:39

Why does he need to catch a bus if the allocated school is only 0.56 of a mile away?

Original poster
FortisMum · 04/07/2021 15:20

Hi, no. I brought him here after I had managed to rent a house in Uk and secured a good job. He is my son.

OP posts:
ihearttc · 04/07/2021 14:45

Odd question (and I know nothing about appeals so feel free to ignore me) but you say “he arrived here 2 years ago” and “I brought him here from Spain”, does that mean he is adopted/fostered? If so then I’m assuming that will have more weight to your appeal.

Original poster
FortisMum · 04/07/2021 14:18

Thank you for your replies.

@TeenMinusTests - the allocated school is 0.56 miles away, the preferred school is 0.8 miles away( however, commuting is just simple- one bus away)
- can I talk to SENCO if he hasn't been diagnosed with ADHD?
- I brought him from Spain 2 years ago- although his english is excellent, I was wondering if it would be good for us to use this in the appeal.

The thing is the allocated school do search bags periodically as advised. First you get a warning and the phone stays with them for 2 weeks, and at the second attempt of bringing a phone into school, he might get expelled.I have explained the reasons clearly and they still said no.

I will look for everything that this school has to offer and the allocated one hasn't.Although, on my letter yesterday, they days that curriculum will not be a reason for appeal.

Also, this school is not in my Borough, but in the neighbouring bourough. Could this be valuable?

Also, @SE13Mummy thank you for the tip for the Own fone- found it now online.If everything else fails, until further notice, I could use that one if allowed.

However, the papers sent to me yesterday mention all the thing why another place in school is not ok- not enough staff, educational resources, space( although it has a huuuuuuge campus with many buildings) and few others.It is this that scares me.

Thank you

OP posts:
UserAtLarge · 04/07/2021 13:34

How, realistically is the school going to stop students taking phones to school, if they remain switched off in bags/lockers during the school day?

They aren't. I would bet most students take phones to school, just leave them in bags.

OP- are you sure you've been very clear that you're asking about your DC taking a brick phone to school and absolutely not using it during school time? If you've, say, asked a more generic "my DC needs a phone as he can get anxious" type question they may well not have understood exactly what you meant.

TotorosCatBus · 04/07/2021 13:07

Sorry the school you want is 0.8 miles away 🤦🏻‍♀️

TotorosCatBus · 04/07/2021 13:06

Can he walk 0.8 miles if buses are likely to cause panic and anxiety ?

MyDcAreMarvel · 04/07/2021 12:52

It is really inappropriate not to allow switched off phones in schools. Pre mobiles there were pay phones on every corner, now there are not.

TeenMinusTests · 04/07/2021 12:46

Sorry I'm being a bit disjointed.

You have 2 things at play here
A) The reasons you are unhappy with the allocated school
B) Reasons that will help with appeal.

To use the travel without phone argument you need to evidence why this is a particular problem for your DS. The more external evidence you have the better rather than you effectively just saying 'he's shy and a bit disorganised'.

So anything else that the preferred school offers that the allocated one doesn't that you can claim (and evidence) is of particular benefit to your DS can also help (even if they aren't the real reasons you want the school).

SE13Mummy · 04/07/2021 12:10

Sorry you're unhappy with the school's phone policy. I expect an appeals panel would want to know that you've tried independence training with your son e.g. catching buses, walking to places and practising identifying how he could get help if needed etc. and that this has been unsuccessful/demonstrated that he would be at risk if unable to phone you on his own mobile. The information in your post suggests it is your anxiety about being able to contact your son outside of school that is the concern so you may need to present your argument differently.

Have you discussed alternative communication options with the allocated school? A device such as the ownfone may be acceptable to them as it only dials preprogrammed numbers e.g. it would be possible to have it set up to only call you, the school and 999. Ownfones don't look like phones, don't have screens or even digit buttons so are unlikely to be high risk for theft, cyberbullying or causing disruption in class so the allocated school may be willing to grant an exception for that on safety grounds... or you get one for your son, teach him how to use it and put it in his bag come September without discussing with the school.

TeenMinusTests · 04/07/2021 11:58

Are there other things about your preferred school that would be better?
Curriculum wise of extra activities?
Does his shyness mean extra need to go to same school as friends?

When you say 'arrived here 2 years ago' is there anything relevant there?

TeenMinusTests · 04/07/2021 11:55

out of sight not site

TeenMinusTests · 04/07/2021 11:54

The crux of your appeal is this bit:
It was only after we had received the papers from them via post that we found out it was a strictly no-phone policy school. For my son, this poses a serious safety issue. He arrived here 2 years ago, he is a shy child and has a bit of attention deficit- however not labeled with ADHD.

How far away is the allocated school?

If the only basis for not wanting the allocated school is the phone policy to do with travelling & SEN I would talk to the SENCO to see whether a 'reasonable adjustment' can be made. At least get it in writing they won't budge.

(I don't think you can appeal based on the fact you are planning to move house)

Your appeal is basically:
My DS's SEN means he can't travel safely to allocated school without a phone and they have been clear they won't make any adjustment . Therefore I am appealing for our nearest school to enable my DS to travel safely.

Also, have you checked with parents at allocated school? Often 'no phone schools' accept 'phone off and in bottom of bag out of site at all times' under a 'what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over' attitude. So unless they do bag searches, who would know?