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AIBU?

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Original poster

Tips for a school appeal

112 replies

Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 17:58

I'm trying to get my DD into a different school than she was offered. The appeal is coming up soon. Has anyone done one and can give me an idea of what to expect, any preparation I should do or any tips. Thanks ☺️

OP posts:
Itwasamemo1 · 21/10/2023 18:01

We appealed many years ago and my top tip is that you argue the reason why the school you are appealing for is the right school for your child ,rather than why the other school is not the right school. Good luck 💐

Parker231 · 21/10/2023 18:03

What grounds are you appealing over?

MrTiddlesTheCat · 21/10/2023 18:03

Which year group?

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 21/10/2023 18:05

What’s your grounds for appeal?

Charlingspont · 21/10/2023 18:14

Not sure what your grounds for appeal are, but I can tell you what won't work:

  • Saying the school you've been allocated is too far/not convenient
  • Saying the school you want is more convenient/on your route to work
  • Saying the school you want has a better reputation/Ofsted rating
  • Saying your child has friends in the school you want and wishes to be with them
Original poster
Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 19:14

Itwasamemo1 · 21/10/2023 18:01

We appealed many years ago and my top tip is that you argue the reason why the school you are appealing for is the right school for your child ,rather than why the other school is not the right school. Good luck 💐

Brilliant, that's really useful, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 19:14

MrTiddlesTheCat · 21/10/2023 18:03

Which year group?

Year 7

OP posts:
Original poster
Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 19:15

Charlingspont · 21/10/2023 18:14

Not sure what your grounds for appeal are, but I can tell you what won't work:

  • Saying the school you've been allocated is too far/not convenient
  • Saying the school you want is more convenient/on your route to work
  • Saying the school you want has a better reputation/Ofsted rating
  • Saying your child has friends in the school you want and wishes to be with them

Ok, thank you. Those aren't any of my grounds for appeal.

OP posts:
TheHappinessEnigma · 21/10/2023 19:20

What are the grounds you’re appealing on?

Original poster
Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 19:22

Parker231 · 21/10/2023 18:03

What grounds are you appealing over?

My reasons for appeal:

It is a Christian school and we are Christians. I used to be active on my church, however once my eldest was born due to his autism, I couldn't carry on attending, although I still volunteered for the church for many years. So I don't regularly attend church and couldn't get that form filled in. But I feel we are being discriminated against due to my DS's autism. My DD (the child the appeal is for) is awaiting autism diagnosis too. She has sensory needs. The uniform at this school is a jumper and blouse which would be comfortable for her (opposed to tie and blazer and not being able to take them off when needed etc). The school is also on the smaller side and calmer being a girls only school. I was also impressed with the pastoral care. All these things meet my DD's needs.

OP posts:
Charlingspont · 21/10/2023 19:30

Why has your ds's autism got anything to do with it? Or are you saying that your ds's autism caused you not to be able to get the faith form filled in, hence discriminating against you for that?

I think your other reasons are good, but accusing the school of discriminating against you is a stretch. Just explain that you do have a faith but are unable to go to church regularly because his autism means.....and explain why. They haven't discriminated, they've applied their admissions policy as it is written, correctly. The appeals process is for cases like yours where an exception might be made.

meditrina · 21/10/2023 19:34

The faith arguments won't carry weight. It's not a measure of the quality of your faith or depth of your commitment; the only things that can be considered are countable things like whether baptised and attendance (usually in person, but if you had been attending online, or receiving communion at home there might be an argument that you were wrongly categorised - have you got a statement from your parish priest attesting any form of attendance?).

Has your child had any form of additional support whilst at primary school? Is there anything about this school that makes it unusually good for pupils with autism? Does it have support structures that the offered school does not?

Do you have any written evidence from a professional about your DD's pastoral needs, so you can make an argument that the school you are appealing for has those things, whereas the offered school does not? (They are highly unlikely to take your unsupported word about this, unfortunately)

Soontobe60 · 21/10/2023 19:40

Does your DS attend a church school?

Lougle · 21/10/2023 19:54

As you present them, your arguments sound weak.

  1. Couldn't attend church - fair enough, but the whole point of SIFs is that they give a level of equality. Would you have got a place if you had been attending church? Do you attend any other faith based groups? I don't think it's discrimination, and even if it is, the panel isn't in a place to decide that it is.
  1. Sensory needs - most schools will give reasonable adjustments. My DD, for example, has a card which allows her not to wear a jumper between October half-term and Easter, when it's compulsory for other students.
  1. Small school and girls only. Do you have any medical evidence that this is needed? A panel can't agree with your assertion that an all girls school is 'better' or 'calmer'. Lots of people might prefer an all girls school, but you need something that shows that your DD needs it.

Overall (I used to sit on these panels) you might have a shot if the school doesn't offer any evidence that it is full, but if the school demonstrates that it's full, or there are other appellants with very strong cases, I think you'll struggle.

xyz111 · 21/10/2023 20:06

I don't understand why your DS having autism is affecting your DD not being accepted?

Lougle · 21/10/2023 20:08

xyz111 · 21/10/2023 20:06

I don't understand why your DS having autism is affecting your DD not being accepted?

I think OP is saying that if he DS didn't have ASD, she would be a regular church attendee, so would have gained priority in the admissions criteria.

clerkhaton · 21/10/2023 20:18

You're rather late in the appeals process; is the school you'd prefer full now?

I've clerked admissions appeals and as a previous PP said, you clearly need to show why the preferred school is required and NOT why your allocated school is wrong.

I'm not sure I follow the autism reasons, but I am reading in the hoof so will come back!

I'll tag a couple of admissions gurus who may be able to help

@prh47bridge @PanelChair @admission

Hohofortherobbers · 21/10/2023 20:22

Would it be better exploring ways the school could support your dad's additional needs educationally and pastorially beyond the jumper and blouse argument? Have you researched their SEN provisions and make case with those?

Riverlee · 21/10/2023 20:28

I agree, give reasons why you want the school, not why the other schools are not good.

Years ago, the eleven plus exam website had a good section on appeals. Some of it will only be relevant to the 11+ but other parts may be relevant or useful (it’s years since I did my appeal).

Another tip I have is Evidence. The more evidence you can have to support your case the better.

LolaSmiles · 21/10/2023 20:33

You need to focus on why the school you want is the right option, not what is wrong with the other.

Schools have to make reasonable adjustments for SEND so one uniform being 'better' is unlikely to carry much weight. I'm not sure you'd be able to get away with saying the school you want us calmer because it's a girls school either. That seems to boil down to gender stereotyping.

There's a brilliant poster who knows admissions information inside out, prh47bridge who might be able to advise.

Bluevelvetsofa · 21/10/2023 20:36

You have to show what the school you want offers, that the offered school doesn’t. For example music tuition, or sport, or a language that she’s been studying or wants to study.

Otherwise what@Lougle has said.

FFSWhatToDoNow · 21/10/2023 20:46

There’s a specific board for this where you can get expert advice, OP.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 21/10/2023 20:48

I used to sit on appeal panels. They have two steps (assuming the process hasn't changed). The first stage is 'is the school full' so will be about space, facilities, planned admission numbers, were places allocated according to criteria etc. If they can't prove they're full you win regardless of your circumstances. I've only sat on one appeal where the LEA failed to prove it.

The second stage is about the impact of having an extra child in a school that is already full. You have to argue why the need for your child to go to that school is greater than the need for the existing kids not to have another in their class. So just as an example, why should the other children have less teacher time and their education impacted in order for your DD to be a faith school when you're not actively practising that faith? That's not a judgment on your reasoning, I'm just using it as an example of what you'll be up against.

Original poster
Hotandsunny · 21/10/2023 20:54

Charlingspont · 21/10/2023 19:30

Why has your ds's autism got anything to do with it? Or are you saying that your ds's autism caused you not to be able to get the faith form filled in, hence discriminating against you for that?

I think your other reasons are good, but accusing the school of discriminating against you is a stretch. Just explain that you do have a faith but are unable to go to church regularly because his autism means.....and explain why. They haven't discriminated, they've applied their admissions policy as it is written, correctly. The appeals process is for cases like yours where an exception might be made.

Basically, the service was too loud for my DS and I couldn't leave him in kids club. Having a DC with autism means you miss out on so much and it just feels like another thing we're missing out on due to autism. I know they are following their admissions policy but it feels discriminatory in that if you can't attend church regularly they count you as having no faith and those who attend church and those with other faiths go above you in the admissions process.

OP posts:
BeringBlue · 21/10/2023 20:56

I can't speak for every panel, but the ones I had for my daughter were more emotionally traumatic than my divorce hearings. In those, I at least felt the judge wanted to hear both sides, whereas I felt universally hated in the appeal panels and ended up in tears.
I can't give you any advice on what to say as I lost, despite following the advice of professionals.
It was a hideous process and I wish you luck.