In year admissions appeal?

[thanksamillion]

Any advice welcome, we're moving to a new town (from abroad) and have secured places for the two younger DCs (YR and Y3) for September in the same school. They don't have space for Y5 DD but she is Number 1 on the waiting list (there is another child on who has moved into the area recently).

The question is whether there is any point in appealing. It's a three form entry and all three classes have 30 in. We don't really have any grounds for appeal except that it would be better for us to have all 3 together.

I'm also concerned that forcing them to take another child would annoy the school and I'll have DC there for another 7 years! I don't want to be 'that' parent from the start

Yes you should appeal. The school really won't hold it against you.

As it's not an infant class you're wanting you stand a reasonably good chance of success.you need to demonstrate this school, and only this one offers something your year 5 dd needs. It could be a junior choir if she's a keen singer, it could be French club if she's already started to learn French, but I'd have thought your best argument would be needing to be with her sisters and integrating into the local community as quickly as possible as you have moved from abroad and don't know anyone here. If that's the case of course!

There is no issue about this annoying the school, it is your legal right and you should appeal. You will not have the strongest of cases in the sense of wanting your eldest in the same school as the other two children but as titchy says look for other things that the school has that will benefit you child to improve your case.

Thanks for the advice. I'll look for some unique points with the school and get drafting something.

if you win an appeal, so the school has one class of 31, well then the school will get the extra funding for that child, which rather softens the blow...

And of course it only takes a single child to move at some time over the next few years for the class to go down to thirty again.

I don't suppose any of you would consider looking over our appeal would you?

We can't go to it in person so it's all going to rest on the written submission. Is this a bad idea?

I would be happy to look over your submission. It is better to go if you can but it isn't the end of the world if you can't.

Thanks prh47 but we ended up sending it earlier anyway.

Good to know it's not the end of the world not to go.

An update - we won the appeal! We heard today that they accepted our reasons and we have a place.

Massive thanks for your help (both on this thread and for the tips I picked up from reading other threads you were all posting on). We're really happy :)

Well done!

Congratulations Thanksamillion! I intend to appeal

For a place for my daughter on similar grounds shortly

To hear of your success. You must be thrilled. Well done!

To hear of your success. You must be thrilled. Well done!

Sorry. My phone is doing strange things

Well done! Fab news