Waiting lists for secondary schools.

We won our appeal! Got a letter yesterday. Feels like we're cutting it a bit fine as we've missed some Y7 induction stuff and it's been hard on ds not knowing which school he would be going to but the look on his face when I told him he's got in was worth all the blood, sweat and tears of the last few months

2plus2 - No won't know result until 29/30 May so not too long to wait. Anxious to get it over but then again want to get my "day in court"!!!

Good luck for the 21st, it was nice at long last to be able to tackle someone in authority about their admission criteria. He was more flustered than we were, but then we have been living and breathing this for the last three years. Will you know on the 21st?

2plus2 Had our appeal this morning - whopping 3 hr 20 mins long but this was only the first part of the block appeal. Panel came back and ruled school is full so have to go back on 21st May for individual bit. Was hoping they would rule that school can take more as they now have an extra classroom but no luck. Get results in about two weeks so not long to wait. Good luck with yours - hope its good news!!!

Saxlass, How did it go? We had our appeal this morning took 1 1/2 hours. It was nice to finally have the chance to put our points across and to answer the questions asked by the local authority. They had another 20 appeals to go for our school so won't find out till mid june. Nothing else to do now but wait.

We've got our appeal on 18th May for DS at local Grammar School. Don't think I could do much more prep, I'm armed with questions for the Admissions Authority and think I've got some valid arguments. However, nothing to "pull out of the bag" so just trying to focus on selling DS to the Panel. I'm now getting really nervous and starting to worry - it's such a big thing.
Congrats to everyone whose had good news - realy pleased for you all - Any tips would be appreciated!!!!

Good luck Mollyroger! I really hope you get good news.

oh wow. I am so glad that is over. I have never been so terrified in my life, even though the appeal panal were lovely.
I don't want to speculate on how we did, but I do feel DH and I did a blinding job so whatever the outcome, we did what we could.

Good luck to anyone still facing their this week or next.

Thanks chaps!

Had a very nice time in the playground this am, with lots of hugs and good wishes.

For the last two months everyone has had their most 'concerned for me' faces on - so it made a nice change!

I was the only Y6 parent at the school who didn't get any of my 3 choices, btw..

Congratulations elsie!

lilo - don't forget that if your DD can't get on at the school you will have a much stronger case for moving her in the future. Depending on the area (I think) you can only appeal once for any one school year, but you can always go back and appeal to have her moved to another school for next year. It is much easier for the panel to be swayed by the argument "well we tried and did our best but this that and the other were failing our child and we have proved that she needs to be in a different school environment".

I wish you and her the best of luck and at least she has you on her side if there are problems. A lot of children don't have such supportive parents as the ones here on MN.

I get very irritated with the well-off parents that can play the system if they don't want to/can't pay school fees and so move or rent to be closer to the desirable schools - it is totally unfair on the rest of us normal people.

well doen elsie!

sounds like my case/prep was no different to yours, honestly. Just different school/area/panel perhaps. Doesn't stop me being VERY pleased you got your school. Am fortunate in a way that DD has a very strong character, so probably will be ok but makes me a bit sick that lots of less able children (her teacher/headteacher's views, not mine!) passed for grammar and she didn't so is going to a bottom of the pile high school. Guess you'll all be bored of hearing from me over the next few years!

Thanks Lilolil.

I don't know why we won, have only had a letter so far but apparently they send out a detailed statement soon.

I did not have, imo, any particular strong grounds, such as special needs or transport issues. But I will say I did a LOT of homework, pretty much all I have done since March! I went in armed with lots of statistics about pupil numbers, teacher ratios etc and then I focused on the strengths of the school and what it offers that others in the area don't. I also talked about our concerns for ds, going to a school without any of his friends, which would have been the case.

Who knows why we got lucky? But I was very well prepared and gave a long presentation.

Perhaps I just bored them into submission?

Elsie, so very, very pleased for you. What a relief!!!Any idea why you won?? (Don't answer if you don't want to, but you might just be able to help others going through similar). We didn't win, knew we wouldn't - on basis that preferred school was full and there were no special needs/other reasons they should take DD, even though she has proven accomplishments in their specialist area. It's just crap this year, in our area the credit crunch is moving children towards state rather than private education so those of us who want state places are subject to different boundaries than previously.

I got my letter yesterday.

We WON our appeal!!

It's a huge relief and I wish the very best of luck to all those waiting to hear/waiting to appeal.

champagne, thanks for being so open. FWIW, I couldn't do your job as panel member, can't imagine anything more stressful at this time of year!

oh thanks for all that Champagne...

We have already sent them all our reports and paperwork etc (despite their best attempts to lose it )

I am terrified of crying.

I can't believe people take photos in, though

I sit on one of these appeals panels. It is heart wrenching for us hearing some of the stories, although we get a few cocky "I just want my kid in the best school available regardless of anyone else" try ons.

If the school is very good and very over-subscribed then this round of appeals for year 7 can be massive - last year I heard 90 appeals for one school - it is hard to be a judge when you are dealing with so many people over so many days - we get around it by giving people scores out of say 10.

Basically if the school you were given is on your list of preferences you don't have a chance.

If your child has a problem, like SEN requirements, bullying, transport to school etc etc we need to have lots of back up evidence - and we need a copy for each of us 3 and the clerk. So Molly - take the dyslexia info in (preferably photocopied) and make sure it is given to panel on day. Having said that some areas won't accept any paperwork on the day although we do.

Try and remember that we all have children ourselves and want to help as many as we can. We are used to people sobbing and shouting, don't always like it but we are used to it. Personally I'm not particularly keen on the ones that bring photos of their DC and line them up on the table "so we don't forget what this is all about" - yes - we know it is about children, that is why we are there, and yes we do care and know how much you care.

And please don't forget that children are resilient and usually settle down really well in a new school, make nice new friends and just get on with it. The bright little bubbles always find their way to the top .

I don't know how much to add in the appeal, give we have had to submit our written statement.
Do we just read out our statement again and wait for questions or can I ramble on more emotively? (I tried to be more factual and practical in the statement rather than: ''my poor sensitive wee boy cries himself to sleep every night at the thought of being separated from his friends after working for years to get his confidence up at school...'' which is true but...)

furbz, FWIW, not sure the things you forgot would swing it. Sounds harsh, I know, but have been through 2 appeals and I really don't think the things you forgot to mention would have made a difference. You have to pull something fairly spectacular & unique out of the bag to make them change their minds if the school is already full.

Once our DCs start at their new schools in September, we should have a "how are they all doing" thread...

don't want to get your hopes up but I think that would have swung it at the school we wanted. Hope all goes well for you xx

we have full report from Dyslexia place saying how because of his exceptional IQ and his Specific learning dfficulties, he needed to be in a school where he would be stretched but his problems understood.
And head of current school has written letter of support, but it doesn't really say much.

Still, you never know?