Emergency (in terms of time) appeals advice please!

[Turry]

I'm writing on behalf of my sister who's trying to make an appeal. I'm relatively aut fiat with the system in terms of grounds for appeal etc. but have a few areas of confusion.

Most pressingly, the 20 day rule about appealing. She's calling her council today to check whether it is 20 days there or more, but she received an email notifying her of her school place on 14th April. Called immediately to ask for an appeal form and was told not possible until she'd received the hard copy notification of a place. Hard copy arrived on the 19th, she called again and they said they'd send appeal form. Still hadn't arrived on 1st May, so she called again to chase and it finally arrived yesterday, which, by my calculations places her 23 days from having received notification before she even received the forms, let alone had chance to do anything with them. Any advice on what to do she is now outside the timeframe much appreciated. Surely if the council are the cause of the delay that cannot prejudice her case?

Secondly, we're not going to go near the admissions being unreasonable criteria, so hoping to find some evidence if admissions rules not being followed/ a mistake having been made seems to be the only way forward(?) What I'm confused about is how you find out if a mistake has been made???

Finally, the infant class size thing - I understand the significance of that, but how do you find out whether that's the cause of her rejection by a particular school? E.g. Where are the numbers published so I can look to see whether a multiple of 30 etc?

Sorry so long! TIA!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1187269-Any-tips-for-primary-school-appeals

This thread has lots of useful info on it.

Basically, the information she needs she asks the LA for. They must provide the answers to all requests for information for the appeal eg she can ask about last distance admitted etc and they will disclose it.

Start by looking on the website - it will have lots of info on there. In particular look at the admission criteria.

What are her grounds for appeal?

There is no general 20 day rule. The LA will have a deadline for appeals but that is purely for administrative convenience. They cannot refuse to hear your sister's case just because she misses the deadline (if she has - it may be 20 school days in which case she still has time).

To see if a mistake has been made check that they have put your sister's child in the correct admission category and that the home to school distance looks reasonable. Those are the most likely cause of errors. The information you need should be on the letter saying she hasn't got a place at her preferred school. If not ask them.

The LA will have an admissions booklet for primary schools on its website. That will give PAN for all schools. In general if PAN is a multiple of 15 it will be an infant class size case, although this isn't an absolute guarantee. A multiple of 10 could also be infant class size depending on the way the classes are organised. If you can't find the information uncertain PM me the name of the school and LA concerned and I will take a look for you.

Just to add on the 20 day question, the rule is that they must allow you at least 20 school days from the date on which you are notified that your application was unsuccessful to lodge an appeal. So, even if they have set the deadline at the earliest possible date, she still has time to appeal. And, as I say above, they have to hear the appeal even if she misses the deadline.

Thanks ladies, that's really useful - I knew less than I thought I did! prh47 I've pm'd you...

I have responded.