Primary appeal / change waiting list criteria

[Justjoinedforthis]

Hello all, I wondered if anyone knows this about primary appeals...ours is tomorrow (its impossible for us to get to work, and when my partner gets redeployed to the plague wards he will be on 12 hr shifts and will be extra impossible), and I wonder if I will be allowed to request that we are placed further up the waiting list on social critera (assuming appeal is unsuccessful)?
My partner put in the appeal, I know we have no chance and am a bit embarrassed about wasting their time, but if there is a chance to change WL criteria that would give me hope..
Any advice much appreciated

@prh47bridge and @PatriciaHolm may be able to advise.

I think social criteria is for things like children of police / social workers where they don't want to go to a school in the same areas as 'clients'.

Mainly in your appeal you need to show why this school really, really, meets your child's needs. If it is infant class size it makes it even harder.

The appeal panel cannot change your position on the waiting list.

If the school has an admissions category for social needs you will have to convince the admission authority (the LA for community and VC schools, the school itself for all other types of school) that your child qualifies for this category.

Thanks so much for the replies, I won’t embarrass myself by asking about the waiting list!

Well they were all very sympathetic but made the good point that in order to take him they would need a new teacher and a new classroom

Don't call it 'plague wards' really inappropriate, especially if your partner is a medical professional

His words!

If you had won the appeal they would not need a new classroom and teacher. A successful appeal is one of the reasons why an infant class can go over 30.

@eddiemairswife

If you had won the appeal they would not need a new classroom and teacher. A successful appeal is one of the reasons why an infant class can go over 30.

Whilst that is true, it makes no difference in an ICS appeal. The school is right that, if they admitted the OP's child without an appeal they would need an extra classroom and teacher. The appeal panel is not allowed to take into account the fact that admitting the child through appeal takes this requirement away. If they did it would drive a coach and horses through infant class size regulations.

I understand that. I also know that it is extremely difficult to win an ICS appeal. I was just pointing out that it is one of the excepted circumstances where an infant class can exceed 30 pupils to one teacher.

I thought you did but wanted to make sure others on this thread didn't get confused.