Appeal process

[Anxiousmummy2]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post here, but I would really appreciate some advice and see if anybody knows something that may help my case. I hope this is an appropriate thing to post about.

The situation is that my daughter will be attending primary school in September, she wasn't given any choices that I applied for.
She was given a school in an unfamiliar area which is a bus journey away and a 20 minute walk. Its the bus journey which is an issue really and the unfamiliar area.

I want to appeal based on my mental health and the fact that I will be having a new baby in November.

The school I want to apply for is an 18 minute walk away from me, more like 15 really.

I know there is a lot of stigma around mental health, but I have anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder.

I am under a specialist mental health team for mums to be and new mums.

Mental health risk is at a peak after having a new baby, I'm concerned about travelling to an unfamiliar area as I experience a lot of anxiety and a bit or paranoia. Also, bus journey with the side effects of grogginess and dizziness from my medication will make it difficult to commute such a journey to and from the school given.

Not to mention travel costs too. These reasons are why I applied for one within walking distance which I am familiar with. I just want to stay well for me and my children.

I'm also worried that my child will get to the school late as it's a longer journey and I don't want that to reflect on theor education.

Does anyone have experience with the appeal process? Do I have a chance? It's all quite daunting to be honest and getting me down.

Any advice would be helpful?

Sorry about the long essay and thank you for reading.

Might be worth posting this on the Primary Education board. A lot of posters there have more in-depth knowledge of primary appeals, which differ to secondary.

Thank you x

Hi OP I am sorry you are struggling so much. As a rule it is hard to win an appeal for a primary place as ICS (infant class size) comes into play where 30 is the upper limit for a class in yrs R-2. Do you know if the preferred school has a reception class of 30 (some will have a smaller intake or mix classes).

Do you know why you were refused your preferences? Was the system fairly applied - ie you were further away that the last awarded place?

Did you list your closest or catchment school on your form?

You can appeal for any school you listed but it is very difficult to win an ICS appeal - you would need to show as I understand it that the procedure had not been followed (eg a child further than you had been admitted without any other factors such as LAC).

As a rule transport and logistics are not considered but it may be that a letter from your medical professional stating your child needs to attend xyz school bc of your health needs might help. I wouldn't get your hopes up tho.

Are there any other closer schools you could consider? You can go on waiting lists for any, you don't have to have listed them on the form.

There are lots of experts on MN and I am sure some will be along soon with better advice in case I have got any of this wrong. Best of luck to you.

Is the school more than 2 miles away? You might be eligible for home to school transport.

As Clary says, if they have 30 children in their classes then your chances of winning an appeal on the grounds you have listed are unfortunately tiny. You would be better off making sure she is on the waiting lists for any schools you prefer. Did you discount any other schools that were nearer? If you think they would be better for you than the offered school, then ask how you get added to their waiting lists. Try not to worry about this too much yet (hard I know!). There is usually some movement, so hopefully you have a chance at a nearer place through the waiting lists.

Thank you, that was really helpful info to know

I'll have a look into this, thank you

How do you get on the waiting list for other schools?

You should be automatically added to yhe waiting lists for all schools that you placed as higher preference (but check with your LA what the protocol is in your area). The waiting lists are judged against the schools' admission policies, so you can go down as well as up, depending on who is on the list and how they meet the criteria.

For other schools that you didn't list, similar applies- but you should contact the schools to join their lists (again, check with the LA whether this is protocol where you live).

The general guidance given is to ensure you accept the place you are given so you don't end up without a place. You need to appeal for why you want the school you like not against the school you are given.

There is may be be a fair bit of movement, depending on where you are- people going private, moving, getting into higher pref etc.

Was your application submitted on time? This does sound rather a traipse to the nearest school with a place available.

As a previous poster has said, check with your LA as ro how you get your DD's name onto the waiting list for all the schools you named on your CAF (this is usually, but not always, automatic) and also for any that are less inconvenient to get to than the one that you have been allocated (the offer of a place at the 'nearest undersubscribed' school will have been done on straight line distance and within your own LA - there may be a school, or schools, either within your own LA or, if you are near a boundary, in a neighbouring one, which could be further as the crow flies, but easier actually to get to from where you live?).

But in the meantime, please do accept the current offer.

If your DD currently attends a nursery / preschool locally, you could ask whether there are any other parents in a similar situation, who could perhaps help out with lifts, or be a travel buddy if they are also needing to use public transport?

Wrt transport being provided, this is worth looking into, but the rules imposed by some councils (re e.g. whether the designated nearest school was applied for initially) can be a bit convoluted. Also the transport, if provided, may be in the form of a taxi to and from school for the pupil only, not for child plus parent, and certainly not child plus parent plus return to / from home for the parent. Some people are absolutely fine with this arrangement, others not.

Sometimes the 'transport' provided is just a bus pass, which wouldn't be a fix for OP's situation. But I do think there must be closer schools where places may become available if she blitzes the waiting lists. Better to put energy into that than a fruitless and frustrating appeal.

Not sure @Flubadubba is necessarily correct. Some areas do not automatically add unsuccessful applicants to wl , you have to request it via LA.

Yeah (hence the 'contact local LA to check the protocol in your area' caveats). The majority appear to, though, but even how you can get onto other wiring lists varies locally (another 'chexk local protocol' reminder).