Appeal process for primary school

[john1968]

Does anyone have any advice on how to make a successful appeal for the school admissions? What type of evidence is the appeal panel looking for ? Thanks

Evidence that your journey would be 'dangerous' ie if you're walking is it a safe walk? Make sure the measurements they have used are correct and the way they have measured is the safest shortest route. You'd be amazed which way they measure distances as most the time it's done by someone with no or little knowledge of the area. We nearly appealed last year as the local council had our route going along a busy road/bus link with no paths at all! Good luck! :)

For an infant class size appeal you would need evidence that the LA have made a mistake and that your child would have got a place had that mistake not been made. e.g. they placed you in the wrong category, they measured the distance from home to school incorrectly.

They would also consider evidence that the admissions process isn't in line with the Admissions Code or that the decision made was completely unreasonable.

Surely it depends on your reasons for believing you have not been given a place when you should have been?

It is as Tiggytape and ClayDavis say. Winning an appeal in an infant class size case comes down to demonstrating some sort of error or mistake. There is more leeway in non-ICS appeals, where the arguments are about the balance of 'prejudice' (ie disadvantage) to the child in not attending the school and the school in taking another pupil.

If those reasons mean that, had the authority not made a mistake then your child would have got a place, then yes that is all that matters.

If there were medical reasons or special needs for the child that could only be met by the school and you didn't disclose this when applying then it will be very difficult to argue your case on those grounds now.

Just one minor point regarding infant class size appeals. The appeal panel has to consider if the admission arrangements were correctly and impartially applied. They don't have to consider who got it wrong. It doesn't necessarily have to be a mistake by the school or its LA.

For example, imagine you live in LA A and apply to a VA school in LA B. If your application was processed correctly you would get a place at the VA school. However, LA A fails to pass your application on to LA B so the school never see it. In that case neither LA B nor the VA school have done anything wrong but an appeal should still come down in your favour.

What is the usual time frame for appeals?

Sorry that was a bit abrupt . I'm tired and irrationally jarred off with this whole process, forum etiquette has abandoned me.

Thanks Tiggy.

Thanks for the information, much appreciated