Appeal potentially wrong - help very much needed from the experts please?

[Stylelostinlabour]

Well we had our appeal today and it came to light the following:

We applied for an in year place when my daughter was in year 2 and put the start date as 9th July 2012. This was rejected on grounds of class size, so we appealed.

The appeal was for Year 3 - now I didn't pay much attention to this as the appeal was today so she would be going into Year 3. If we don't win the appeal that means we can't apply for a place again until next year, but do we have grounds as the appeal was actually for the wrong year. At the moment this plays into our favour as no class size restructions but if we aren't successful then it would mean we could apply again from this September for Year 3 based on the first application being for Year 2.

I know it sounds complicated and might not even be an issue (everything crossed).

We didn't get a say on what we were appealing for it was only the local authority rep who brought it up as one of the panel asked when we had applied and then said well the application is for year 2 and your appealing year 3

Any help, advise would be really appreciated - I've never been so nervous or stressed in my life!

You may have applied for a place in Y2 but an appeal held today could not possibly be for Y2. The school year is over. Your daughter could only take up the place in Y3. I do not believe you have any grounds for a further appeal in September.

I think the OP applied to start in Y2 at this school on 9th July. However, as it is now the summer holidays, the OP's daughter cannot start at this school until September at which point she would go into Y3. Hence it was an application for a Y2 place in July but, as it is now too late for a Y2 place, the appeal was for a Y3 place in September.

Hello I know it's a muddle we applied for an in year place at the time it was for year 2 as that is the year she was in - we didn't actually state a year I guess it just goes on date of birth and current year. We didn't actually think anything of it it was only the local authority person saying in one way we have been disadvantaged but in another not as no key stage 1 class size restrictions.

Application was rejected on 12th July and we appealed on this date so in theory we were appealing the decision to not offer a place in year 2. I understand that the appeal date was today and we had two weeks notice but I guess what my question is as you can only apply once in a school year can we reapply in September for year 3 as we haven't applied for a place in year 3 only had an appeal for year 3 based on an application for year 2.

If we aren't successful how can we apply again before next year and as they dont hold waiting lists for in year placements how do we go about getting a place if one is available - do we have to ring every day for the next x months I so out of my comfort zone with all of this it's so confusing!

The decision letter/email should confirm that it was treated as an appeal for Y3. That in itself should work in your favour, as Infant Class Size rules won't come into play.

If you don't win the appeal, you have to start again with fresh applications/appeals and joining waiting lists. Does your child have any school place for September?

The appeal panel will be working on the assumption that it is for a september start in year 3, it can be nothing else as the school year had finished. If the appeal had been say June, then it would have been for a year 2 place, as our child could certainly have started in year 2 if successful.
It is a mute point, given that you are allowed one appeal per academic year whether you have had had that for yr 3 or not. I am not sure whether that is measured on the basis of when the appeal was received or when the appeal was heard and for which year. I have not doubt what the LA will say and that is you have had your appeal for year 3 unless there is a material change in circumstances at either the school or your own circumstances. I would tend to agree with the LA view that you have had that opportunity.
There is no official waiting list and you do not know the outcome of the appeal. However if you are unsuccessful then I would reapply for a place on about the 25th August. The reality is that there may be a pupil that leaves in the summer and the school only finds out early on September. If you have applied at the end of August to the LA, then they will have to confirm school numbers with the school when they return in early september and you may just be in the right place at the right time.
After that I am afraid it is about keeping in touch with the school. Whilst the LA still has responsibility for in-year admissions till September 2013,my suspicion is that schools will start in this next academic year to take a more active role in keeping waiting lists.

Unless you hold the secrets of time travel, they will treat it as a Y3 appeal!!

Admission that is very helpful and just the information I was looking for thank you.

Carycach - oh to have a time machine and go back to selecting a school in the first place...