APPEAL / SCOTTISH EDUCATION SYSTEM

[butterfly1968]

I have an appeal looming, i contacted my local council for info to support my appeal. I was told by am employee that my appeal would be a waste of time as their were 39 children in total who did not get into the secondary school and if my appeal was successful, then they would have to re access the other 38 children who's parents have not even made an appeal and there was no way that this would happen as there was no space available at this school. any advice on this, seemingly it is in some act of the education whatever.

would this act come under "Discrimination" at then end of the day why appeal when you are fighting an appeal for 39 people and not one. The chances are nil, Pls help.

andrea

Depends on what you are appealing on?

mY older daughter already attends this school, my younger daughter lacks in confidence, she needs the support of her older sister. logistically it would also be easier. the school has a better academic pass rate

As to the appeal i feel i have not got a good chance al all now as i would not just be fighting for my daughter to get into this school, The council would have to consider the other 38 children.

I think the best you can hope for is to go on the waiting list, there maybe some movement in the next couple of months which may move you up the list. Unfortunately if the school is full it's full and if your catchment school has places the Council has fulfilled their legal obligations in offering you a place.

Sorry, not much help.

what would be the best grounds that they would consider for an appeal. i.e my daughter is stressed very easily,a worrier. i have heart disease ( Dilated cardiomyopathy), my youngest daughter has a mildly dilated heart, due you think this would be a consideration on my appeal.

I am not as familiar with the admission system in Scotland as I am with that in England, but as far as I can see the employee is talking complete and utter bs. If the appeal panel decide in your favour they must tell the Council to give your child a place at that school and the Council must do so. They cannot refuse to do so on the basis that there are other people on the waiting list.

As the poster above mentions, I think the member of staff is talking nonsense. In England an appeal panel has to consider an appeal on its own merits, irrespective of how many other children "didn't get a place" or how far down the waiting list you are.

Oh, and as another poster said, try and avoid arguments based upon convenience. They won't win you the appeal and might undermine other more relevant arguments.

THANKS EVERYONE, I am just looking for any advice possible

As I guess you applied for an out of catchment place, I suggest you look at your council's information on placements and find out exactly what the order of priority is for requests. In our area the first priority is for siblings etc which means that you should be fairly high up the list.

Again another guess is that you didn't get a place because the school is full, did they state that on the letter? Any idea if any out of catchment placements were successful, if there were some it would be interesting to find out how they succeeded eg did they live closer to the school?

Is there anything that your preferred school offers in way of subject choices, extra curricular etc that the allocated school doesn't (no idea if this will work but worth a try).
In previous years have they admitted a larger number? This will give an indication if the school is capable of having extra in classes. All this information should be available from your council.
Good luck with it! And by the way the council employee was talking nonsense, did you get a name, was it in writing? Share it with the appeal board. It is your RIGHT to appeal. (You can also put in another placement request to a different school if you would prefer it to the allocated one).

If you're appealing to get into 1st year of a secondary school, you may find that the numbers are capped. Our school, for example, caps its first year intake at 240, but keeps one place for a child moving into the catchment area and a second place for a deaf child moving into the local authority. About 50 of these places are placing requests.

The numbers are capped because some of the classes have a max of 20 pupils in S1 & S2.

In my experience, it's unlikely that there will be enough movement between now and August for you to get a place, especially if it's a "good" school. Is there any way that you can move house to get into the catchment area?

Moving home is something we are considering, although both my daughters don't want to leave the village.

CRAZYCAROL, Do you think that i should write to the council to get answers re intake number at the school this year and previously or ask the at the appeal?

I would consider getting in touch with The Govan Law Centre for advice.

Some scottish LAs can be as slippery as eels (and lie blatantly) so you will need expert legal advice on this.

butterfly1968 - don't wait until the appeal to get this information as it may help your appeal. Phone or email your council. Don't be fobbed of by "that information isn't available". If they are difficult make it a "Freedom of Information" request, however that may take a little while (21 days? - can't remember).

Do you have the date of your appeal yet, or are you just preparing for it?

Just preparing, i was told a possibly date 1st week in June. Spoke to the Govan law centre last week, they told me to write to the council. should i address my questions to R. Naylor (Director of Education) i don't know?

Do you think they are reducing the inyake numbers in S1 due to the cut backs ie Smaller class sizes, teacher cut backs?