Help with appeal to get my son into his catchment school

[retropops]

I am wondering if anyone can offer any advice

We recieved our appeal letters a few days ago for DS1's reception school place

We want to appeal the decision to not offer my son a place at our one and only catchment school (apparently 31 children in catchment for 30 places) i do not know the distances that were used but in general others live on the adjacent roads to the school.

and also to appeal our 3rd choice which we live across the road from the catchment area that takes 90 children there are 11 people in front of us on the rankings list. - Obviuously out of catchment

My son is currently in the school nursery which is attached to the reception class (seperate to the rest of the school) so he knows the set up.

The school we were offered was the only one in the councils area to have a space avalaible which we are not sending our son to and have rejected the place

Does anyone have any tips for what to put on the appeals form - i know the chances are slim but would really like to give it my best shot

Does it also go to an appeal - or do you just get a rejection letter if it is based on infant classes.

You have to show that the LEA or admission authority did not follow its admission criteria to the letter, thereby depriving your son of a place.

Does your LEA follow a "first preference first" system, or all all preferences weighted equally?

If so, then you must be placed ahead of the 11 out of catchment children for your 3rd choice school, if you live opposite.

If you can demonstrate that another child was given a place wher eyour wasnt, and you believe that you have a stronger claim to the place based on eg distance, then thats how you need to appeal.

Infant admissions are a nightmare. But quite often, people will drop out when they move house, so its worth staying on the waiting list at your preferred school (s).

Thanks for the responses the criteria is:

1. children in care
2. catchment with sibling
3. catchment
4. out of catchment with sibling
5. out of catchment

In our 1st choice school we are ranked 3rd as catchment with no sibling
In the 3rd choice we are ranked 5th, meaning that people with siblings in the school living 5 miles away take priority over DS1

We are on the waiting list for 8 schools we would be happy to send him too so we are hoping on this rather than the private alternative

Given the class numbers (30/90), this will be an Infant Class Size appeal. For an appeal to succeed, you will need to show that the LEA made a mistake; for example, measured the distance to your house incorrectly, or placed you in the wrong admissions category.

You should ask which category you were placed in. If, as it appears, you didn't get your catchment school because you were placed in the right category and there were simply 30 children who were in higher categories/then lived nearer than you, then your hope of winning is very slim, I'm afraid.

Definitely make sure you are on the waiting lists for the schools you want too.

Unfortunately, declining the offered place was foolish. The LEA have no obligation now to offer you anything else. What are you going to do if (as is very likely) your appeals fail?

Nothing to add I'm afraid, but how sad that your son will have to essentially move schools due to lack of space. Especially considering you are in the catchment area and have played nicely by their rules. Good luck with the appeal and/or someone dropping out and a space becoming available.

So are you out of catchment for the third choice depite living opposite?

We weren't foolish to decline the place PatriciaHolm - we have a private place lined up in case we do not get him into a school from the waiting list.

We are out of catchment yes for the 3rd choice school by living across the road.

Its so frustrating that as our catchment is full we do not get any priority in any other school esp ones where they live potentially miles away with a sibling and we just get told its how the system works.

So please note moving into the catchment area of a school still doesn't mean you will get in!

I have to Put on the form reasons for appealing that is what I'm struggling on do I mention my Son is already in the catchment, closest school etc?