Appeal against Reception/ Primary 1 school offer

[katesmyth100]

I hope someone could help advise please?

we have just heard that we have been offered our 2nd choice only of infant schools, and I am desperate to get into our 1st choice school.

Can we appeal on the 'disadvantage' argument ( ie. that the disadvantage to our son by not going would be greater than the detriment to the school/ other pupils in admitting one more) for an infant class size appeal?

Our son currently attends the nursery at our first choice school, and (by his teachers admission) is thriving there, and is a pleasure to have in the class. The teachers have admitted to me today that they are sad that we did not get a place. We love the school and the ethos of the place.

The school we have been offered is nearer to us, but by going there, we would have to move childminder, where he has been going since he was 8 months, and she is like a member of the family. To move to a school where he knows no one, and move from his beloved childminder, would be incredibly distressing for him.

The chances are that any new childminder would not be as flexible with hours (I work part time, and freelance, so my flexibility is key in getting work) so I would probably have to go full time, thereby missing out on not only my son's early years, but also our 20 month old daughter.

In any other year, we would have had no difficulty in getting in, but this year is a very busy 'baby boom' year, so it sounds like we just missed a place.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I am really struggling with the idea of having to disrupt his life like this.

Hi Kate I feel your pain, but the reality is this probably isn't grounds for appeal. To appeal successfully is uncommon from what I have read and you have to prove that they haven't applied the criteria properly (which is unlikely).

Best bet is to call the school and make sure that you are on the waiting list, and ask them to find out from the local authority (if they don't already know) how far down this list you are. If you in the top few, you might be okay as lots of people change their minds, go private, move etc. also worth finding out the classification of the school, if they are Voluntary Controlled ( I think this is the right terminology) then the Governing body. An agree to exceed the 30 maximum, which might help you if you are near the top of the list.

This is the situation we are in too, we didn't get any of our 3 preferences, and school they have allocated for DS was scored in Jan2012 as "inadequate" for early years, plus we hated the school, head and early years teacher.... And the kids were running riot!

Good luck!

Thank you - and sorry to hear you are in the same position.

In our county, if you don't get your first choice, you are automatically on the wait list, but they don't publish the list until 15 may, and we have until 18 may to submit an appeal.

Think I will have to prepare the appeal in any case - will have to try anything and everything!

Good luck, wishing you all positive thoughts!

Hi! Am also in your boat - can't sympathise enough. I didn't get my first 2 schools which are the only ones we wanted as sibling is in a third school close to these two. I have medical problems meaning a difficult school run is a problem - all supported by hospital evidence and it seems to have made no difference. Now I'm going to be galloping all over the borough with 3 Rd child in tow.... Ive looked at appeals criteria and I don't think it's worth us appealing either.

Argent, I tried to appeal an in-year placement on this ground - I have a medical condition that makes the school they offered me physically impossible to get to (including medical statements etc)... not to mention that first school (nearest us) accepts resonsibility for students only 10min before class and I had to cover more than a mile in under 10mins with 2 kids in tow. Not possible with anything but a portal, I'm afraid.

If it is an infant class size appeal the panel should only admit your child if they find that a mistake has been made. If you have no evidence of a mistake you can still appeal. It is not unknown for evidence of a mistake to emerge in the hearing. But you need to be realistic about your chances of success.

Thank you, guys.

Will do a bit of digging at the LEA and keep fingers crossed.

Will be thinking positive thoughts for us all, and those blessed waiting lists.

Had to appeal at infant school two years ago. Won the appeal only because they made a mistake. We had a very strong argument but this was discounted. Infant class sizes can only go above 30 in very exceptional circumstances - ie an error on their part or one of a multiple birth being offered final place. So unfortunately i think your chances of winning an appealwould be very slim. Do your homework very thoroughly - check previous admission numbers, distance from school of last child offered place (use google maps pedometer) etc etc. you may find an error. Be aware though, if you do, the place/s will be offered to those wronged by the error only ie child on top of wait list (not necessarily you)

On a more positive note, the first six on the waiting list were offered places before the September, due to families moving, children accepting places at other schools etc. A further three prior to Christmas.

The lists do change and all hope is not lost

Good luck

First - start planning your appeal, gathering evidence, filling in the paperwork etc. Your grounds for appeal don't sound great, but don't give up before you've started.

Second - keep your fingers crossed for the waiting list. DD was offered a place at our first choice school less than 24 hours before our appeal was due to be heard. The process sometimes goes on well into the September term, last year in our area children started at one school and then moved to their preferred school a week or two into term as they moved up the wait list.

Third - start putting out feelers for a new childminder.

That way you'll be covered whatever the outcome.

TBH your DS may well miss his childminder, but IMO reception age children very quickly adapt to their new classmates. Parents find the idea of their DCs missing firneds more worrying than the children.