Can anyone give advice on Primary Appeals?

[kristinag]

Hi, I was devastated yesterday to discover that we had not been given any of our 3 choices for primary school. The school we have been offered is definitely closest to us but is on the edge of a huge estate and without wanting to sound awful the majority of the families that attend are really rough! We chose to send our daughter to a different pre-school (there is a nursery attached to the school) for this very reason. Our first choice is a fair hike from us but my niece and nephew go there and Darcey is very close to them. I have no idea whether it is worth appealing, or on what grounds or even what makes a successful appeal. Can anyone help me, I'm in bits? Kristina

Kristina, I hate to say this but you don't have grounds for an appeal. You can only appeal if there is a compelling factor (such as special needs) or if somehow the LA has not followed due process when considering your appeal. When I appealed for my DD, not one person was successful in overturning the original decision. It's absolutely not worth bothering unless you have proper strong grounds.

What you should do is get a list of all schools in the area, then ring the LA and find out where you would be on each waiting list. Visit any likely contenders (if you are number 20, forget it). Then you can switch to the best waiting list; some authorities let you stay on more than one list.

Lots of people do not take up school places, for various reasons. I was unlucky with my DD - although we were number one for a long time on the list, a place only came up when someone else jumped ahead of us. But I got her into a local church school which had a warm atmosphere. We are actually staying there for the duration now because it feels too late to swap. Friends who got the roughest school have actually been surprised at how much they like it, and are also staying put.

First thing to do is make sure you are on the waiting list for each of your preferred schools. The LA should do that automatically but some aren't very good at it. You should also get on the waiting list for any other schools that you would find acceptable.

The first question regarding any appeal is whether or not it would be infant class size. Most primary school appeals are ICS. If the school's admission number is 30, 60, 90 or 120 any appeal will definitely be ICS. If it is 15, 45, 75 or 105 it is likely that any appeal will be ICS. Some other admission numbers can also be ICS appeals depending on how the classes are arranged. If you are unsure ask the LA (or post more information here). If the appeal is ICS you will only succeed if you can show that the LA has made a mistake. That doesn't stop you from appealing. You will occasionally find a sympathetic panel who will admit your child despite the rules. But you should be realistic about your chances.

As thinkingkindly says, the information you have posted is not grounds for an appeal. However, the position isn't quite as bleak as she says. Nationally around 16% of appeals for entry to infant classes are successful. You don't necessarily need something as strong as special needs, although if you can show special medical or social needs which are best dealt with by the preferred school that clearly helps as long as you have independent evidence from professionals to back up your case. If it is not an ICS appeal you will have to show that the prejudice to your child's education through not being admitted to this school outweighs the prejudice to the school through admitting an additional child. To achieve that you need to look at things offered by the school for which you are appealing which are not offered by the allocated school and which will be of particular benefit to your child. Negative comments about the allocated school, particularly about how rough it is, will not help your appeal. It is all about showing why the preferred school is right for your child.

I would echo what thinkingkindly says, you may find that the school you have been allocated is better than you think. You should certainly accept the place there if you haven't done so already. That gives you a guaranteed place should all else fail. Some parents in your situation reject the offered school thinking it will help them win their appeals. It won't. Indeed, it may actually damage their appeal.

Thank you thinkingkindly - as I suspected but think I have now decided not to proceed with the agony of appealing, it's just delaying the inevitable. I'm sure my DD will be fine at this school, it's just that whole dilemma over play dates etc - there are certain families who I just wouldn't feel happy with her spending time with outside school. Just wish that people wouldn't use less fortunate circumstances as an excuse to let their kids behave badly. Good manners and morals don't cost a penny!