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Education

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School Admission Appeal - Anyone Been There

4 replies

Robeena · 12/02/2010 10:42

Hi,

I will post this under education as well. I Finally have three appeal dates for my three schools that I want my son to attend.

We fall into Hertfordshire education authority.

Please can anyone offer advise on how to present a strong case to the panel of people and what to say / not to say.

Any advise is appreciated.

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 12/02/2010 13:35

Hi there - is this primary or secondary?

We appealed successfully at primary, but we were in the catchment for the school we wanted. Not sure what your situation is.

Search for my name and relevant keywords and you'll find everything I've posted on this before.

Robeena · 13/02/2010 20:22

I am appealing to get my son (4 1/2) into infant/primary school. We are in the catchment for all the schools.

Will do a search for you.

OP posts:
calvi · 11/03/2010 20:48

Buy "How to win your school appeal" by Ben Rooney if it is still in print - found it very helpful and won my appeal some years back.

prh47bridge · 12/03/2010 00:11

If these are infant class size cases you have very little chance of success unless you can show that a mistake was made in the admissions process and your son should have been admitted. If any of them are not infant class size you have a better chance of success.

Some basic do's and don'ts for you.

Do read the LA's case thoroughly and make sure you understand it before the appeal.

Do ask the LA questions if there is anything you want to know. They will be helpful even if the information they give you undermines their case.

Do find out the capacity of the school and the current number of pupils. If the school is not currently full that may help you to argue that admitting your son will not cause prejudice.

Do concentrate on needs your son has which can only be met by your chosen schools. These could be educational, social, medical, physical - anything that says he needs to go to this particular school.

Do read the other recent threads relating to appeals. They contain a lot of good advice.

Do submit all relevant documents before the appeal. If you produce significant new evidence at the appeal you may find that the appeal gets adjourned to allow the LA and the appeal panel to absorb it.

Don't take a photo of your son to the appeal. That could turn the panel against you as it feels like a form of blackmail.

Don't talk about league tables, OFSTED reports or anything else to do with the quality of education provided. I'm afraid that isn't relevant and may turn the panel against you.

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