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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

School appeal

35 replies

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 02:13

Hi could someone please help me, I am so stressed out just found out that my son has been accepted to my fourth choice. I am so disappointed. I wouldn't mind if it was any of my 3 choices. I selected my fourth and fifth choice just to make sure there was something but in my head I actually thought I would be accepted to one of the top 3.
The problem here is my first choice is in my catchment area and the rest are not. To travel to the school my son got accepted says 40mins but with a small child you are looking at an hour if not more this is a long way to travel 2 times a day for a child and 4 for me.My son walks for 15mins after complains he is tired and wants me to carry him. I am concerned he will be so tired when he gets to school that it might affected his learning. The other thing is I don't feel like this school is as good as the other 3. I went to see them all and all my top 3 I loved. Is there any way I can appeal to the decision I know it's maybe silly but I am so upset it's really stressing me out.

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Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 02:20

I just feel that the teaching is better in the other schools. In the school my son got accepted it's only for infant after you need to apply for junior and ofstef report say it's effectiveness Inadequate

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Sothatsflatwhite · 21/04/2016 02:24

I'm not sure what the possible grounds are for appeal. Check the council's booklet and call the admissions team to discuss it. It could be your top three schools were massively oversubscribed and you didn't live close enough.

We got our fourth choice school too. We live quite close to our top three choices, but they are so popular so they only take kids living up to 200m or so from the school (in previous years at least). I didn't think we'd get in, and I only applied in case there were fewer siblings this year!
Re: fourth choice. We're going to make the best of it.
I hope everything works out okay for you. I know it's so stressful.
I'm thinking of getting a scooter for our school run

Sothatsflatwhite · 21/04/2016 02:27

Do you know if there are other undersubscribed schools in your area? Ones that aren't inadequate?

We have a couple in our area. When new children move into our apartment block mid-way through the year, they go to these undersubscribed schools. They are Ofsted Good.

Maybe you can also find out where you child is on the waiting list for your top 3 choices. Our waiting lists are available in May apparently

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 02:29

Thank you for your response.
Only my first choice was in my catchment areas the rest wasn't and funny how out of my 5 choices I got accepted to the furthest school.

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Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 02:35

It's a catholic school so not many in my area that were ofsted good the only one that was close to me and my catchment area was the one I put in my first choice.
Don't think I have much of a case to appeal but when I applied for the one my son got in I didn't realise that they were separate and had 2 different ofsted reports for each one I thought it was just one because infant says outstanding but juniors Inadequate, if I knew this not sure if I would of applied

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PanelChair · 21/04/2016 09:13

Nothing you have mentioned so far sounds like grounds on which you are likely to win any appeal, let alone one on infant class size rules (which I assume this would be - there are several threads at the moment which discuss how tight the rules on ICS appeals are).

By all means appeal if you wish, but be realistic about your prospects. You need to get onto waiting lists for all the schools you'd be willing to accept. In the meantime, be positive about the allocated school to your child and work out how you're going to manage the school run.

AndNowItsSeven · 21/04/2016 09:16

Why did you apply for out of catchment schools?

BearGryllsHasaBigRope · 21/04/2016 09:21

Andnow she would have applied because you have the option to put 4-6 preferences. You will only be in catchment for one school. If you don't put preferences then there is every chance you will be placed at a school miles away because it will be the closest one with spaces available.

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 11:32

The other big problem is my partner suffers from OCD, recently his grandmother passed away and triggered it, to leave the house can take a very long time and with the school being so far it's going to be even more difficult to get to we have to take certain routes, he also has put in his head that he doesn't want our son far from him because something bad will happen and he cant be there quick to help him it's all in his mind I know but OCD sufferes don't see it like we do. any advice

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PatriciaHolm · 21/04/2016 11:49

Firstly, check the number of children the school you want admits into reception. If it is a multiple of 30, it will be an ICS (infant class size) appeal, which are very very hard to win. (It may also be ICS if the number is 15 or 45). ICS appeals can only be won on one of three grounds -

the admissions authority made a mistake that cost you a place
the admissions criteria are illegal
the decision not to admit was so perverse no reasonable person would make it.

Nothing you've said so far would fall into those grounds I'm afraid. How far is the school you've been allocated? Over 2 miles and transport (for your son, not you) should be provided, this can be a bus pass, or possibly a taxi if no other option exists. A 40 minute walk is not considered unreasonable though I'm afraid; if necessary you could take a buggy? Reception children using a buggy for long distances isn't unusual.

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 12:06

Thank you guess not much I can do

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Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 12:13

It's not a 40mins walk that is in public transport to walk maybe 1hr30min. So my best chance is to go on the waiting list?

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LindorBunny · 21/04/2016 12:34

It sounds as though they should be providing transport if it's that far, which at least may help a little. Good luck finding somewhere closer.

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 12:55

Thank you

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AndNowItsSeven · 21/04/2016 13:07

Ok , my area your catchment area includes approx 15 schools.

lougle · 21/04/2016 13:24

Sadly your DP's mental health won't secure a place at a local school either. You should be given transport (although it could be a bus pass for the child and then you'd have to pay to accompany). Are there any local schools you didn't apply for? You could join the waiting list.

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 13:47

I will have to have a look it's catholic schools I want not many around with good reports thank you

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AndNowItsSeven · 21/04/2016 13:51

So did you only apply to Carholic schools even though other schools are nearer? I doubt you will get transport for parental preference.

fredfredgeorgejnrsnr · 21/04/2016 13:52

Do councils really pay for transport when there are nearer schools with places that just weren't on the persons list? I thought transport was only provided where there were no nearer schools, not just where there were no nearer schools that the person chose?

AndNowItsSeven · 21/04/2016 14:16

No they don't provide transport in those circumstances Fred.

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 15:00

I want my son to go to a catholic school my five choices were the all catholic school with a good report. I thought I would get one if my top 3 choices to be honest. Just really upset I feel like my top three choices the schools are better than the one I got offered. When I went to see them in open days that's how I felt but I just applied for this one because I was scared i might of got a non Catholic and maybe a not so good school.

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catkind · 21/04/2016 15:55

How close to you are the three schools you put first? Do you know anything about the waiting lists yet? Or if not, how close do they usually accept pupils in whatever category you're applying under? That should give you some idea whether you have a realistic chance of a waiting list place or if you've just made a mistake.

Also worth checking that they have considered your application under the correct category assuming there is priority for catholics. An error being made is your only real chance of winning an appeal at this point.

Is a non-catholic school so scary? Are there any nearer non-catholic schools you might prefer now you have properly considered the scale of the transport problem, and might still have spaces?

tiggytape · 21/04/2016 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AndNowItsSeven · 21/04/2016 16:52

Have

Original poster

Sonia2016 · 21/04/2016 17:18

Thank you for everyone advice

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