Should we mention a past knife incident in our school appeal?

[MumaBearz]

We are submitting an appeal for our daughters secondary school. She didn't get any of her choices and has been allocated a requires improvement school. We didn't consider this school, for several reasons, but a big factor was there was an issue involving a knife with a child who goes to the allocated school (year above).

Basically on a playdate 3 years ago the child - who is 1 year older than my daughter - suggested a truth or dare type game, and dared my child to threaten another child with a knife. When she refused, the child threaten my child and the other child with a knife. The police were involved as the other child, essentially the victim, parents contacted the police. The police came to question our child and talk to them about the incident.

It was horrendous at the time, and we were pleased when the child involved moved onto secondary school.

I'm now dreading prospect of them being back in our DD life, seeing eachother eachday at school.

Should I bring this up at the appeal? it demonstrate why allocated is not the right school for DD. We could ask police to provide a summary.

But I worry it casts DD in a bad light.

I don’t think it casts your DD in a bad light. I’d be mentioning it, with written evidence from the police etc. I’d also be providing your child’s school report- especially if it’s glowing- highlights that the incident was out of character for her. These are the extenuating circumstances that appeals are for. However, be aware that unless you have a very good case for why you want your preferred school as well, they may not uphold your appeal if there are other suitable schools with spaces available.

Thank you. we already have a nice letter from there teacher - which is really glowing tbh, but she added that she DD would benefit from a fresh start.
I think we've got some other really strong points, but it is a very oversubscribed school, and i think they usually have 70 or 80 appeals. So I am not feeling optimistic.

I agree with @DillyDallyingAllDay
you have to mention it and make clear that this school didn’t make your consideration list as a result of the significant incident
is your position that any other school than this one is acceptable because of significant safety risks. Your note from the teacher will help.

I wonder if there’s a way to make clear that you aren’t fighting for your top choice per se, just any option that isn’t this one?

Yes ..not a good choice of secondary school for your DD
Definitely include that information,.she can't possibly want to see that person again,and nor should she have to

I think you would be crazy to mention it! It's nothing actually to do with the school, just the one pupil who now goes there? Who your daughter is well old enough to stay away from.

I don’t think it casts DD in a bad light. But it may not be sufficient reason for DD to need a different place as it sounds like this was more than a year ago and there has been no recurrence

The child is in mainstream school and hundreds children need to be in school with them. The child is not even in the same year group.

I doubt a silly game that got out of hand 3 years ago, when they were all so much younger, is going to influence admissions either way.

By all means mention the incident (especially if you have the police report) but I doubt that, on its own, it will be enough to win the appeal. The panel might take the view that, in a secondary school, it won’t be difficult to keep the two students apart.

I wonder if there’s a way to make clear that you aren’t fighting for your top choice per se, just any option that isn’t this one?

It would be a very naive independent appeal panel member who didn't understand that the reason for a large number of appeals is I just don't want the school we've got, but the literal framework of an appeal is that it is for this specific school and here is my case for why the panel should make this school take my DC, despite the fact that the year group is already full with pupils who were ranked higher against the oversubscription criteria than s/he was. Whatever the possibile detriment to the education of all of them (including my DC).

Actually putting over to the panel, I'm not really bothered whether I get this specific school, or another one, tbh is pretty much a recipe for an appeal not being upheld.

I think it depends whether this is supporting the basis of your appeal, or is this your appeal in its entirety

Agree with @PanelChair and @MarchingFrogs

You are appealing for the school you want, not against the school you've got. The appeal panel may well think that being at the same school as this other child but in a different year isn't a huge risk and that the school will be able to manage the situation. But even if they agree that this is a problem, this is a negative argument about the allocated school. You need some positive arguments as to why your child needs the appeal school.

No. You appeal for the school you want. Dont waste your time complaining about the school you don’t want. You need to educate your child on staying away from undesirable children. I’d work much harder on the school you want and how it meets your DDs needs. Look at curriculum, clubs, sport, arts etc and make a case for your dd to go to the school you want. Don’t bring in other dc.

What were the reasons she wasn’t offered any of her choices? Were they “reasonable” choices? What made you put them down as choices? This is what you should be focussing on, the reasons why you thought the other schools were a better fit for your child. I am assuming that you are on the waiting lists for the original choices and or any other schools.

Sorry, (this might seem pedantic, but the legislation around school admissions is quite clear on the use of terms) - but preferences. The 'choice' involved is a) which schools to list as preferences on one's CAF, and b) in what order.

@MumaBearz two questions:

• has the girl who is now in year 7 at the allocated school given any indication that she still 'has issues' with your DD? (ì.e. is there reason to believe thay she poses a credible threat to your DD?).
• have you (or whoever at your primary school is responsible for liaising with secondary schools re transition) contacted the allocated school to ask whether they would be willing and able to ensure that your DD and the other girl have as little contact as possible? Email correspondence would be best; if the response is sympathetic and positive about measures that could be taken if necessary, you can at least be reassured that things probably won't be as bad as you fear if your DD ends up going to that school in September, but if the response is dismissive or unhelpful, you can submit it as a supporting document for your appeal if you wish (even though no, you are not officially appealing against the school given and my previous comment about not +/- saying, really, ijust want anything other than what I've been given being a really bad stategy stands).

In the meantime, are there any other schools in the area which would be better than the allocated one, but which you didn't originally list? You can make a late application now, and submit an appeal if turned down.

Sorry. Yes I know the terminology thanks.