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Original poster

In year admission appeal

33 replies

Myspace123 · 16/05/2023 09:00

Can anybody help me and give me some advice please, my daughter started at her chosen secondary school in 2021 year 7 , she was doing well until the end of last year when she had a silly fall out with some girls , she mentioned moving to another school , and stupidly I moved her to this school in march this year , well after the first week she pretty much hated it and was very unhappy and she said she wanted to go back to her old school and since then it’s been a downward spiral that’s got worse and worse , I called her old school and asked for her to go back but they are full and she’s been put on the waiting list (she was number 4 now she’s number 5😭) she has barely attended the new school she will not go, obviously now I’ve received a letter from the attendance officer about her attendance now to, she is crying everyday and not doing one bit of work all she keeps on about is going back to her old school, I’ve tried everything possible to try and get her back asap , I now have a appeal hearing on June 1st , I really need some advice on what to say and how to go about it ,this is not only stressing her it’s stressing me to, I wish I never moved her now . She’s not learning anything and just upset all the time , it’s currently 9am and I’m begging her to go to school . I don’t know what else to do 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
Myspace123 · 25/05/2023 17:15

@Cantwaitforsummertime hi my daughter is at number 4 but she told me 3 new students have started since she left so I’m baffled how we’re still at number 4 if that’s the case ,

OP posts:
Cantwaitforsummertime · 25/05/2023 17:02

New ones join the waiting list who will rank higher than your daughter. I am currently looking at an in - year transfer and it goes on merits, not catchment, echp, siblings etc.

Original poster
Myspace123 · 25/05/2023 16:55

@PanelChair also they have 300 students each year group and they say they have exactly 300 students , my daughter told me 3 new students have joined the year group since she left and the waiting list never changed so how does that work ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Myspace123 · 25/05/2023 16:52

@PanelChair i would really appreciate your advice please, I just received my appeal case via email , can I ask if a child is still on roll to a school would that mean they could still attend the school , it’s very strange because when I called [redacted] admissions and explained I wanted my daughter to go back to her former school she told me my daughter was still on roll there , now I have seen the appeal there is a email sent to the school from [redacted] admissions asking them if my daughter is still on roll as she hasn’t been taken off roll and this is one month after she left the school , I don’t know if this would help as I have no idea what these things mean but in my head I’m thinking does that mean she could have gone back as she was still on roll at the time ? I maybe clutching at straws but I’m just trying whatever I can at this point . 22 days since march my daughter hasn’t gone to school I really need to win this ,

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Original poster
Myspace123 · 22/05/2023 16:49

@PanelChair thank you so much for your response , I know I made the biggest mistake of my life and I’m paying for that now and so is my daughter, honestly I’m angry with myself , I really need to win this appeal Its really a nightmare right now . Since march she has been off school 21 days and every day is a struggle to get her there . I feel like I have no idea how schools work out admissions and for that I feel like I could mess it up as I don’t know what I’m talking about. the only thing I can say for sure is it’s affecting my daughters mental health and she’s not learning anything and won’t go to this school, the appeal is on the 1st June im so nervous because I feel like if I don’t get her in with this appeal I won’t know what else to do

OP posts:
PanelChair · 16/05/2023 18:32

At the appeal, you need to persuade the panel that the prejudice (detriment) to your daughter if she’s not admitted to the school outweighs any prejudice to the school in having to accommodate an additional pupil. You can mention her poor attendance at the current school; the panel might be sympathetic to the argument that if she’s admitted to this school she’ll be motivated to attend school and will get back on track. You can mention anything else about the school that will particularly suit your child and she won’t get at the current school (subjects on the curriculum, extra-curricular offer, pastoral care, whatever).

To be frank, I think the difficulty here is that you’ll be arguing that this school will be the best possible fit for your child, but the panel may be scratching their heads about why then you removed her from it. You need to prepare yourself for questions about that.

Original poster
Myspace123 · 16/05/2023 14:15

@Bramshott Thank you for replying , the thing is if she started fresh somewhere I guess she would have just got on with it and not known any different but because she just wants to go back to her old school that’s all she seems interested in “getting back there” I honestly wish I never took her out now , it’s my fault and I can only blame myself ☹️ but I guess that doesn’t help the situation now

OP posts:
Bramshott · 16/05/2023 09:35

Whilst you obviously need to prepare for the appeal as best you can, I'd say take a deep breath and accept that what's done is done. She moved from her old school for good (or maybe not so good) reasons.

The real issue (and of course this isn't what the appeal is about) is that she is not thriving at her new school and won't attend. If you were approaching it fresh, having moved into the area and sent her to her current school, what would you be doing? Would you still be appealing for the original school or is there another option?

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