Infant School - class size appeal

[helen1122]

My child did not get any of our 3 choices. Our first choice would be a class size appeal. How can I find out if they have processed our application correctly / used correct information?

We are 4th on the list of 17 unsuccesful applicants. They have said we live 1.367 miles, position 3 are 1.366 miles and position 2 are 1.304 miles.

I know it's unlikely to win on a class size appeal but need to try for my sanity's sake.

Does anyone have any advise? Many thanks

Sorry I meant to say, in other posts it says that they should tell you in the letter why you haven't got a place, my letter just says

"please contact the county council direct who will be able to provide you with information on how places were allocated according to the published admissions criteria.

Are they able to say this? Thanks

If you have missed out on distance they should have given your distance and the distance of the last child admitted. However, if they didn't there really isn't a lot you can do about it. It is a breach of the Admissions Code and you could complain but that's about it.

The main questions you need to look at are:

• Does the distance look about right?

• Have they placed your child in the correct admissions category?

• Do the admission arrangements comply with the Admissions Code?

If none of those three questions turns up anything untoward it is unlikely there has been a mistake. It is still worth trying, though. It is not unknown for information to emerge in the hearing which shows a mistake has been made.

I would suggest that you do appeal but you need to go into it with your eyes open, realising that unless something comes out at the appeal hearing (and they do sometimes) that you will not be successful. Plan B needs to be in place. Follow through on PRH's suggestions as a good starting point and then at appeal carefully listen to everything that is said by the presenting officer about the admission arrangements to see if anything suddenly seems an issue.

I am not understanding the size of class appeal? The class size is limited by legislation - but can be extended in extenuating circumstances.

If you feel they have measured the distance incorrectly (how crazy close is that?), then that is the issue for the appeal.

Having families that cam that close to getting in isn't an appeal arguement, I don't think.

How can I check if the distance is correct? I don't understand why the school and council have advised that I appeal

Ask the lea for the route. Ask the head of the school if there is much movement in pupil numbers this might give you an indication if you might get a place.
I appealed successfully on infant class size a few years ago. I wont lie to you it was a ph ase of my life that i wouldn't want to repeat. All consuming to say the least.
Good luck.

You have a right to appeal, however, these are only won if there is a medical issue or if the allocation process was not followed correctly, not because you dont like the school you have been allocated. When you declare your intention to appeal you will be sent copies of your application and the criteria yours was place under.
The LA are not obligated to give you one of your preferences, only to offer your child a place somewhere. If schools have allocated their maximum class size of 30 children they cannot take in extra children unless you can prove that your application was not handled according to their published admissions criteria or that they ignored a specific medical or educational need that can only be met by the school you preferred. You should accept any place they have offered and then ask to be put on the waiting list of your preferred school. There can be lots of movement over the next few months and some families apply for private and out of borough schools too, so once everyone has finalised their choices you may find your child may get to the top of the waiting list of your preferred school. Alternatively your child does not legally have to be in full time school until the term after their 5th birthday (www.direct.gov.uk) So you are within your rights to keep her at home and hope a place becomes available by then. Best of luck.

For an infant class size appeal a medical issue won't help unless there is a category for medical needs and they didn't put your child in that category when they should have done so. For an infant class size appeal you need to find some kind of mistake in the process in order to win. But don't be put off. Sometimes unexpected things emerge during the hearing. So give it your best shot but be realistic about your chances of success.