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Original poster

APPEAL ON THURS (TODAY!)! Should I mention this? Your opinion please!

17 replies

valhala · 18/12/2008 00:11

I have an appeal to attend today (Thurs) in order to get my YD into the local school. I have many reasons to appeal regarding my daughter's circumstances but I am wondering if I should also mention my own situation.

To cut a very long story short, to lose the appeal would not only mean a host of problems for my child, it would also have a detrimental effect on an offer I have had which would give me the chance for my own future. The reasons I have for my daughter attending the school are, I feel, relevent, sensible and valid - and essential!

Obviously the points about my child are the most important and valid but I wondered if I should also mention the effect that losing the appeal would have upon me - or would it look purely selfish?

Opinions welcome and gratefully received - thank you.

OP posts:
takingitasitcomes · 18/12/2008 02:51

Bumping for you.

cory · 18/12/2008 12:46

If it is to do with your job prospects- no, I wouldn't bother. Their remit is to see to the wellbeing of the children. They can't put an adult's career before the educational wellbeing of the other children who want to get in.

If it will mean your being less able to get your dd help, it might just be relevant. We got transport because I could supply medical evidence that I can't drive.

roisin · 18/12/2008 20:18

How did it go?

Original poster
valhala · 18/12/2008 23:11

ROisin, it was scary! I a
have given presentations in the past, done public speaking but was unprepared for today!

Mine was an appeal for an over-subscribed catchment area Secondary with a sibling in the school, and various emotional health and practical/financial reasons for wanting my YD there and not in the allocated school 6 miles away.

The case for the school was given by an LA representative but the school's Principal was there to back him up too. Lots of mentions of the school being over 2 sites and one building being Victorian and not suited, size-wise for modern education.

One thing worried me - I stated that one of my concerns was that the allocated school was only accessible to me in case of emergency, parents meetings etc, by an hourly bus as I don't drive and have a very limited income and thus don't normally have the taxi fare in my purse. The LA rep pulled out a bus timetable which said that there was a half hourly service!

I could only say that I was unaware of this and didn't think that it existed. There is, I told them, to the best of my knowledge, only one bus service through my town - it is hourly and goes upwards to the allocated school and downwards to the town in which the appeal was heard. When I left I took the bus home and both checked with the driver and rang Traveline and confirmed that the half hourly service no longer runs and that the only route through my town is indeed an hourly one.

So, I rang the Reception of the county hall where the appeal had been heard and asked them to relay this information to the LA rep. (I now wish I had asked them to tell the Clerk instead!).

I can only hope that the panel receieved the information and took it on board! If they didn't and I lose, I shall always wonder if it MIGHT have made a difference.

I shall get the result of the appeal in about 5 days - I don't think it will be good news and if so Heaven knows what I shall do then.

OP posts:
roisin · 19/12/2008 12:20

Hope the news is good news.

It's very unusual not to get in when you have a sibling already in school already.

It must be very oversubscribed.

PortAndStilton · 19/12/2008 12:24

Would the fact that they based their decision on out-of-date information about the bus service give you grounds to appeal against the appeal decision if it goes the wrong way?

starbear · 19/12/2008 19:21

I think you should write to the LA rep and anyone else that could effect the decision re buses, print off any details from websites and enclose. I have no other advice good luck.

Original poster
valhala · 19/12/2008 23:03

Thank you. I shall write to them, thanks for the advice, (and do my best to see if they made any other, similar errors in their argument too).

It isn't terribly over subscribed - just 3 over PAN in my DD's year and 2 over PAN overall. The school is arguing that although they have a large site (about 40 acres) for the PAN of 1350, it is spread over 2 original buildings (a newer one and a Victorian one which is like a mansion or old public school on films), plus various new blocks and a couple of moblile classrooms inbetween and that thus some of the teaching rooms are small by todays standards and in view of modern teaching methods.

It didn't help me having the Head there to assist the presenting officer as she argued the schools case too damn well for my liking!!

I can only wait for the result though doing so is driving me to distraction!

OP posts:
Original poster
valhala · 21/12/2008 01:23

Thank you all for your advice and interest. This morning I got a letter from the Panel telling me I had won my appeal!

OP posts:
snorkle · 21/12/2008 10:46

well done valhala, excellent news.

Hulababy · 21/12/2008 10:50

Glad you got good news

roisin · 21/12/2008 12:08

Brilliant news: well done! I'm very pleased for you.

flixx · 21/12/2008 23:56

you've done well to get post on a Sunday?!

christywhisty · 22/12/2008 00:03

It's christmas, it's the only time they deliver on a sunday.

sunnydelight · 22/12/2008 03:36

That's fantastic - it must be such a relief for you

lingle · 22/12/2008 19:26

Am amazed that you had to appeal with a sibling in the school - astonishing.

gladders · 23/12/2008 12:16

excellent news - what a great xmas present!

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