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Primary education

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Original poster

Appeal on grounds of 'perversely unreasonable'

37 replies

Bezzabelle · 20/04/2015 19:45

Wondered if anyone could offer advice- we didn't get offered any of our three choices for DS and instead offered our catchment school. The reason I didn't apply for this in the first place is I work in the criminal justice system and am professionally involved with parents of children who attend this school. This would be a real safeguarding issue for DS. I'm going to appeal on these grounds. We are 2nd on waiting list on 1st and 2nd choices so hopeful of that but can't risk not appealing. It would be a infant class size appeal as up to their 30 pupils. There has not been any admissions criteria that has not been incorrectly followed so would just be won if I can argue that DS would be prejudiced more than the school. What are my chances are winning appeal do you think and should
I also mention social reasons such as my son is shy and he won't know anyone at the allocated school but will do at our 1st and 2nd choice?
These were not unreasonable schools to put as choices and literally missed out on one by a matter of yards......

OP posts:

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newbieman1978 · 21/04/2015 10:36

I don't know your area so this may not be relevant however something that came to mind which may be asked is.... Obviously you live and function, socialise ect in this area, right? Do you not come across your "clients" in everyday life?
If you are so worried about these people and their children why would you choose to live where you do?

Smells a little fishy to me, catchment school not up to much, better ones around??

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 21/04/2015 10:44

That's why I don't work where I live. It's a real risk to our children if they are identified as the child of 'x professional' so I work in the next locality.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 21/04/2015 10:45

And I can't believe you didn't spell this out somehow when you applied. Really remiss.

Buttercupsandaisies · 21/04/2015 11:11

I honestly don't think the panel will look favorably on this having thought further. If you really didn't just want the catchement school then I'm sure you would be ringing asking for the nearest school with a place....given your only concern is that you want to avoid this school.

The fact you are appealing for a school only 0.6 miles away suggests pretty clearly that you just want the better school (which I do understand!). The panel will see through this.

A panel will surely not break infant class size rules (for a school of your choice) in this case - especially if they have other schools that aren't full. Honestly my cousins situation sounded perfect on paper and without knowing all details of your situation, sounded more risky (and had pretty severe consequences) but she still lost. The school she appealed for was 10 miles from the allocated school - all they did was allocate her one 8 miles on the opposite direction!!,

You can't be that worried if you live in the same community. What about high school etc. surely they'll all feed into the same couple of schools?

Not trying to be negative but I think you are getting false hope here. My cousin has letters from people very very high up to verify risks etc.

Original poster

Bezzabelle · 21/04/2015 11:14

I didn't have a caseload at the time of applying but there are children at the school who I have been involved with the parents prior to going on maternity leave who I was very involved with.

This is nothing to do with being snobby about schools- I just want my child to be safe at school.

OP posts:

newbieman1978 · 21/04/2015 15:55

Think you may be being a tad disingenuous OP.... You've had 5 years to sort out schooling for your child.
You still have not addressed the question of why you are happy and have been happy to wok in the same community that you live?
Yet you are so concerned for the safety of your child you need them not to go to your local (catchment) school but one just up the road is fine!
Something doesn't add up here.

Most professionals in your position choose not to live anywhere near where they work and I'd of thought it was actively encouraged.

FunkyPeacock · 21/04/2015 16:48

Have to agree with newbeeman

The more 'detail' you provide, the less I feel you have reasonable grounds for appeal TBH

Presumably, if you are living under a mile from a number of these families then you could easily bump into one of them every time you leave the house, walk to the shops/park etc?

CharlesRyder · 21/04/2015 17:51

What do you think their children are going to do to your child? School is not a free for all. It is a little sad to assume that because their parents have offended (I assume) that their children will be somehow dangerous. That attitude is not helping to break the cycle is it?

Adult access to primary school is very strictly regulated so your clients will not have access to your child. It would be easier for your clients/ their children to target your child when he's playing in the garden at home. TBH I think if the people you work with are that risky you should not live in the area your work covers.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 21/04/2015 17:52

2% of children not getting any of the choices is higher than it sounds too. Probably 50% of applications are in a priority category of some sort (siblings, sen). That makes it about 1 in 25. Take out those living on the doorstep of one particular school and it'll be higher still for people who have first child and are between a number of schools.

BikeRunSki · 21/04/2015 18:02

Surely, whichever school your dc goes to, then it is possible that there may be parents (now or later) that you are involved with professionally.

The two parents I know in similar situations both chose to live 25 miles from their respective homes to avoid this situation,

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 21/04/2015 20:21

CharlesRyder it's not worry about what the children will do to our children, it's our children being identified as the child of a probation officer/social worker/whatever and potentially our home or children being targeted. There is a very good reason why we try to keep identifying details anonymous with clients and having a child at the same school can fuck that up.

CharlesRyder · 21/04/2015 20:32

I understand that, but surely OP's clients will see her with her child in Tesco/ leaving her drive in the car/ at the local park and then walking home?

If she sends her DC to a school half a mile up the road her client's siblings and cousins will see her dropping her child off.

I do get it, I also work with vulnerable families. I don't think OP has a leg to stand on with this though as she lives in the thick of it.

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