what is the point of me appealing in my situation?!

[easycomeeasygo]

I didnt get my DS2 into my first and only preference of school, yes..stupid of me I know. I have had the letter now stating that I can appeal, so I will try, but the thing is, my DS1 goes to a different school and I was adamant I didnt want DS2 going to the same as his brother so I didnt put it on the form as I knew we'd probably get allocated that one instead of 1st preference, but now I regret it! So I phoned the LEA and was told i should have put it on the form etc etc etc and that I should put it in writing to be considered for the school where his brother goes...ok...but this morning I get a letter saying that my application for the school I didnt put on my form..was unsuccessful! Also it states my son will not go on the waiting list, and all places at the school have already been allocated! So whats the point of me appealing? Sorry if it all sounds a bit mixed up...I will appeal, I have to really, I know its my own fault, i'm just mentally exhausted by the whole thing, didn't think it would be this hard.

Actually having read my previous post I am being slightly unkind to the LA. It is totally wrong because they are mixing up bits of the admission code. The bits about having a material change of circumstances refers to the time after you have submitted your preferences and the initial date has passed for the submissions. You are then not allowed to change your preferences unless the LA accept a material change of circumstances, like moving house. However it has absolutely to do with waiting lists and they appear to have just decided that sounds good and used it for the waiting lists. They do not know the law behind the admission code and they are definitely illegal in not allowing you to be on the waiting list for any school that you want.

oh right OK, so what I've got to do then is put it in writing that I wish my son to go on this waiting list and wave the admission code in their faces.

yes, I agree the bit about you not being able to go on a waiting list unless circumstances change is NOT in the admissions policy, they're making it up and is extremely good grounds for appeal if there's movement on the waiting lists.

It sounds like the LA in question is panicking. I heard stories of a mother ringing up to ask about waiting lists and the admissions people starting shouting at them. Guess they should have planned for more classrooms a bit better.

What gets me is, the day before the last general election, our lovely councillors (who of couse wanted votes!) said they were going to build a new school in our area. That was a year ago, it's gone soooo quiet since then. I hassled two of the councillors a month or so ago, they lied through their teeth. one said 'at least the money's there now' but he's supporting the opponents to the school who want the site for sport, the other said the money wasn't even there. They make me so angry. Why don't they do the right thing and build some schools instead of lining their own pockets with the section 106 money they're making out of all the housing developments. The developers have to pay money to the council to help provide facilities and infrastructure to support the extra people, but none of it actually gets spent on anything, let alone schools. They've spent absolute zero on my local area despite multitudes of housing developments.

Thank you for all your help. I have emailed the lady who sent me that letter, I've kept a copy just incase it needs to go to anyone else. Lets see what they fob me off with this time.