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Infant class size appeal help

27 replies

Luczlukz · 10/01/2017 17:28

Hi I've got a infant class size appeal on Thursday. The school seem to think I've got a good possibility of winning. My son should be in year 1 but he's currently at home being home educated. We walked the three hours a day to school for a year but it just became too much. We were told by admissions that year to put My daughter in the school we wanted Nathan to go to which we did. Then at the end of the year we asked admissions what we were to do as they both had different school and they had no answer which was another reason we removed him. How do I need to prepare? I'm absolutely nervous. I don't know what I should be doing. How I should be preparing? Can anyone help? Thank you

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prh47bridge · 11/01/2017 10:32

I find it interesting that the school think there is a good chance that you will win. I note you mention a supplementary form which suggests this is a faith school.

An appeal panel is supposed to be independent. However, some faith schools use the same appeal panel year in, year out and they cease to be truly independent, taking their lead from the school as to who to admit and who to refuse.

As others have said, strictly speaking under ICS rules you don't have a case unless you can argue that your son should be excepted, e.g. because there are no places available at any school within a reasonable distance from home. The school obviously decided your son was not excepted when they refused admission but the appeal panel is entitled to review that decision and overrule the school if they think it was wrong.

You should also make a case as to why this is the right school for your son. If the panel decides this is not an ICS case they will want to know how your son will be disadvantaged if he doesn't go to this school.

In terms of preparation, you need to be ready to present your case. Don't just read out the written case you have submitted it. The panel will have read that before the hearing. Make the strongest case you can as to why your son needs to go to this school.

You will probably be asked to sum up your case at the end of the hearing, so have a very short (1-2 minutes) summary ready, although you need to be prepared to modify this if significant new information comes out during the hearing.

After the school has presented the case to refuse admission you will be given a chance to ask questions. Think about what you will ask. You want to use your questions to try and undermine their case where possible.

You need to be realistic about your expectations - this is a long shot. But you should make the best case you can and hope that you get a panel that is willing to bend the rules.

whyohwhy000 · 12/01/2017 21:57

If it's an infant class size appeal then you are only likely to win if you can show the Local Authority has made an error and that error cost him a place.

Or that the decision to refuse was so unreasonable that no rational person would have made it.

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