Can anyone comment on my points for appeal for a Y3 place?

[oneofthosedays]

I feel a bit lost with this appeal - it needs to be in for 11th May and I'm going to try and write it all up in the next 2 days and get it sent in. Can anyone give advice as to whether these rough points are good enough and how much to expand on them please?

1. Allocated Y3/Jnr place is currently 4148m distance from our home and this school is 817m distance from our home according to council website. This obviously presents a number of difficulties with regards to DD socialising with children who live in the locality as she will be at a disadvantage due to not being able to meet friends at school or access the same after school activities they do. I feel this will have a negative impact on DD's ability to do well academically. There will also be various difficulties transporting DD to and from allocated school due to distance and we will not be able to travel to school via our normal method of walking/cycling which will also have an effect on DD's health .

1. This school's approach to teaching and practical application (through the cross-curricular approach) of English (as per website) will help and challenge DD as this is a subject area in which she is currently above average.

1. The school's 'Flagship School for Music' status within the LA will be of benefit to DD as she has been involved in singing/choir events at Infant school and is also keen to learn an instrument (through the 'Wider Opportunities Scheme' as per school website) and further develop her confidence through performance opportunities offered at school (during annual 'Arts Week' as per website).

1. Sports/P.E is also another area which DD currently enjoys and does well in and which we feel this school will provide excellent provision, in particular the swimming offered in Y3 and 4. This is also reflected in the after-school club activities as well (see point 1.)

Is this the kind of thing I should be putting or is it a bit shit? Will be grateful any help/pointers.

AS this is not an infant class size appeal, it will be decided on the balance of prejudice - ie the prejudice (disadvantage) to your child of not attending the school v the prejudice to the school of admitting another pupil.

It really is up to you how you present your appeal. You're on the right track here. You need to pinpoint things that the preferred school can offer and which will suit your child and which aren't available at the allocated school. The points you have outlined are all worth arguing, although be wary of making any sweeping statements that don't stand up to questioning. Is it really the case, for example, that the allocated school doesn't offer tuition in musical instruments? (Our LEA runs the same scheme in all schemes, but perhaps this is unusual).

That said, your case doesn't sound hugely persuasive on its own. Very many parents could make these same arguments and if (say) the swimming provision in Y3 and Y4 is as rudimentary as my LEA's I wouldn't be inclined to think that missing out on swimming was a huge prejudice. However, the point here is (as I said) about how your case weighs up against the school's/LEA's for non-admission. If the school's/LEA's case is flimsy then you may find the appeal panel decides in your favour.

Same scheme in all schools, obviously.

Agree with Panelmember. A lot will depend on the strength of the case to refuse admission. Sometimes the case to refuse is so strong that no appeal will succeed. Sometimes it is so weak that almost any appeal will succeed. When you get the authority's written submission to the appeal you will need to see if there are any holes in it that you can attack to show that the school can cope with a few extra pupils. You will get help with that here if you need it.

Thanks for the advice - I'm struggling to find out info from the Jnr school DD has been allocated due to their non-functioning website - the website is set up but there is not one link which works. Is the only other way ringing them and quizzing them on all these aspects?

Will the school be able to tell me how many are currently in Y2 (to be Y3) and let me know if there ever have been over 60 pupils in these years and whether people have been successful on appeal etc?

Go ahead and ring them. If this is an LA-controllled school, ring the council as well. They are required to answer any questions you ask within reason to help prepare for your appeal.

If you encounter problems, put your request in writing - email will do.

Well, there is currently 61 pupils in Y3 as one got in on appeal. I have to email school places team to find out if any other Y3 appeals have been won. Not sure if they are allowed to disclose the grounds on which the appeals have been won though but am still going to ask!