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Original poster

Appeals help

79 replies

RaspberryStar88 · 01/03/2022 05:59

Hi newbie here, we’ve had our offer and son has been offered 3rd choice. Not a great school at all. We’re going to appeal 2nd choice, on the grounds of mental health. Son has high functioning anxiety which primary school are very aware of (and will hopefully provide some supporting letters) although son isn’t diagnosed. School we want has great SEND. Outdoor curriculum and lots of great sporting opportunities for son which would really benefit him. Offered school has none of this and awful reputation for bullying and SEN children failed miserably. Can anyone give me advice of what to do/not to do for a successful appeal. Sat here in tears, we’re in Birmingham too which has a very low success rate…

OP posts:
Associatepeggy · 01/03/2022 06:46

[quote RaspberryStar88]@Associatepeggy thanks for the reply! I’m
Absolutely devastated, I don’t even know where to start, or if we have a strong case at all.[/quote]
I remember feeling the same. I am sat waiting for ds email to tell us. Absolutely bricking it

This link should help start out. Forgot to say, until pp posted, make are you are on the waiting list too.

www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/appealing-a-schools-decision

AlexaShutUp · 01/03/2022 06:22

I feel for you, OP. DD didn't get our choice of school initially and I was gutted. We didn't have to go through the appeals process in the end though, as we were given a place off the waiting list before it got to that stage. I really hope it works out for you in one way or another. Flowers

Original poster
RaspberryStar88 · 01/03/2022 06:16

@Associatepeggy thanks for the reply! I’m
Absolutely devastated, I don’t even know where to start, or if we have a strong case at all.

OP posts:
Associatepeggy · 01/03/2022 06:09

My advice as someone who did this and won (but 6 years ago) is know the appeals process inside out. It was an academy but they used the council for the appeals process. The woman from the council broke the rules and tried to our us at a disadvantage.

A few weeks before, we received everything they had for the appeal and there was an email in there, that showed the woman breaking guidlines. So I went back and added a complaint about the email. This was the first point the panel wanted to discuss and to be honest you could tell they were appalled at the councils behaviour.

The hearing wasn't easy as the woman told me I was a bad mother for not convincing my dd to go to the school offered. She was awful. I suspect trying to rattle us so we presented poorly.

The school offered was over an hour on public transport and I couldn't drive her and get ds to primary school on time.

We were the first people to win an appeal in 3 years. Ours was based on dds mental health backed up by the Senco at the school. But knowing the rules really helped us.