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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

In Year schools admission appeal - year 3 & 5

12 replies

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 13:54

Hi There, I hope you may be able to give me some advice.
I am in the process of relocating from Wales to England.
I have applied for my 2 closest schools for my children in junior years 3&5. I have been refused places and offered a school within 2 miles of our house. This school has an awful reputation, I don't want my children to attend here.
I have been refused my closest schools as they are full. I am i the process of appealing against this decision. I have my appeal hearing for 1st March.
I wondered if anybody has been through similar and if you could offer me any tips?
Many Thanks

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CarlingBlackMabel · 21/01/2013 13:57

Have you actually visited the school you have been offered? Reputation can be inaccurate and misleading! Also, you can remain on the waiting list for your preferred school while accepting a place in a less favoured one, and then once one child is in the other will be at the top of the waiting list as a sibling.

mummytime · 21/01/2013 14:05

You need to have grounds for your appeal which show why the school you want is better for your children, and an "awful reputation" of the school offered is worthless. Does the school you want offer a sport your DC are talented at? Musical tuition? Etc.
Are there any other schools you would be happy for them to attend, even if further away?

Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 15:24

Hi thanks for your responses.
I have visited the school I have been offered. Its actually an overspill for a really bad area, its offsted is worrying and its more the children that are attending the school.
I bought a house in the area for schooling reasons. If I wanted them to go to the school I was offered I would of saved allot of money when buying a house. But it was mainly for secondary education which won't be a problem as I have the right address for the schools I want for them then,
I do have areas for appeal ..... Sporting reasons, choir reasons, a friendly face at the school.

My children are moving a long way and I feel this will help them settle more quickly.
I also have a 2.5yr old who is down for sept 2014 in my chosen school. I think she will find it difficult walking 2 miles twice a day to the school I have been allocated to take her brother and sister to school eachday.
I have a letter from my current headteacher which explains how they are both very academic hardworking etc... how they are both talented sports people.
I also have a letter from my sons sport academy explaining his commitment and his talent. I will take copies to the hearing?
Will I have a strong case? or is this a waste of time?
My daughter is 1st on the waiting list and my son 2nd, they are already over subscribed..... however there are 5 appeal winners in these over allocated spaces. Which leaves me a little hopeful?

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tiggytape · 21/01/2013 16:55

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Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 17:08

Tiggytape - Thank for for your comments, they are very helpful.
I understand academic and behaviour may not be considered. I was just hoping to prove that as my children are not trouble makers etc.. that by taking them and the classes accepting one over their numbers that they will not disrupt/hinder the class....? Not sure whether I'm just holding out hope!

I will definitely emphasise the need for them to continue with their sports, the school I have applied for has won awards for healthy eating and sport....

neither of my children suffer anxiety or bullying and I don't want to lie, but after moving 250 miles away from all they have ever known, I am hoping that they will show some sympathy and realise that 1 familiar face could help them settle in?

All schools in the borough are over subscribed and the school they have offered me, my daughter will actually send them over the 30 they are supposed to have.

They have 3 year groups and are on 90 in one year and 93 in the other.

So not overly oversubscribed, not sure if this will work in my favour or not.

Thanks again
Danielle

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Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 17:10

Also to add to matters our house completes end Jan and hearing isnt until march 1st... Therefore I need to carry on paying rent here in wales to continue my childrens education until March 1st and thereafter if needed.....!

A real nightmare as my husband needs to be in England from beg Feb for work, so I will be stuck in Wales with 3 children alone until the hearing....

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tiggytape · 21/01/2013 17:59

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Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 18:59

tiggytape
I have considered what will happen if my appeal is unsuccessful. I presumed that the appeal is for both children and that they are looking at finding them both a place at the same school.

I know the current numbers and i am pretty sure my daughter could of had a place at one of my preferred schools, but was turned down as they presume I want both my children at the same school (obviously this is ideal)....
However if I could secure one of them at my preferred school I will consider sending the other to the local independent school. I am viewing this week and likely to get a scholarship so reductions if they are high scorers of the entrance test.
Realistically I can stay in Wales a few months, but already I feel as though I am waiting to move and am hoping it happens asap and at the moment, the school places are ruling my moving date.....
Thanks again for your advice and opinions it really helps to thrash it out with someone who seems to know what they are talking about.....
Danielle

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tiggytape · 21/01/2013 19:22

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Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 21/01/2013 19:46

Thank you again Tiggytape. You really are ironing out some of my concerns.
I dont think my daughter has necessarily been denied a place, however the school they have offered and one of my preferred schools both have 90 children for year 5. So 3 classes of 30. By admitting my daughter one of those classes would go over numbers.
However my sons year is over by 2 in the preferred school and under in the school they have offered me.
I presume they thought it would be better to keep siblings together and offered me the same school.
I will definitely make it clear that I would be happy if they only have a place for either child. Hopefully my son would get the place from the hearing as he is in year 3 and still has a way to go. I
f my daughter was unsuccessful I would keep her in independent for the rest of year 5 and year 6, then she gets a guaranteed place at the local great state secondary school....
Knowing my luck though it will be my daughter that gets a place from the hearing and my son who will be left with 3 years of independent school fees.... I don't like the idea of them moving and then moving again, it seems such a shame.

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admission · 21/01/2013 22:18

Reading your posts, you have not been denied any places, the schools were all up to their admission number for your daughter and they have made the sensible decision to offer places at a school which could offer a place for your son. At a distance of under 2 miles they are making you a realistic offer of places. They have in effect made a decision to go over the admission number for your daughter to allow them both to be at the same school.
I accept completely that you do not want your children to go to that school but that is the only offer that you will get from the LA and it would be better to accept the places as the alternative could be even further away and equally as bad.
At the appeal you can argue for places for both children and if the Chair of the panel has their head screwed on properly then they will ask you what you would do if only one could be offered a place. On the face of it, with two less in the year group (90 as against 92), that is more likely to be your daughter offered a place. There is however hopefully an argument to counter that, in that the classrooms are likely to be similar in size in year 3 and therefore if two classes can have 31 in them, why can the other one not also have 31 to make 93 in the year group.

Original poster

DanielleG1980 · 22/01/2013 10:24

admission
Thank you for your reply
I do understand that they have offered me a sensible alternative to my preffered schools and I know the hearing is going to be a difficult appeal.

I was just hoping for some views and anything that may be of help to me.

I will mention that numbers in both schools and if they can offer one a place I will accept and then will hope & pray the other gets a place, or it will be the private route which i am reluctant to go down.

Even thought the school they have offered me to have more allocation space, there isn't much in it.

Thank you

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