Primary school in year admissions appeal-Help

Bewildered2021 · 2022-01-16T08:10:26+00:00

Has anyone ever won one? It is for a Y5 place at three schools that are full. One of the schools the siblings attend. My argument centres around how unhappy my child is at her current school and the logistical nightmare of getting her there. I have since researched that these are weak points. Any tips anyone please? The schools have said they are full and quoted health and safety reasons etc

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LIZS · 16/01/2022 08:20

It needs to be about why this school suits your dc better, ie. Extra curricular activities, teaching to her strengths ie. Strong on maths and they enter Olympiad

prh47bridge · 16/01/2022 09:08

Yes, people have won such appeals and I have helped people win such appeals. However, as LIZS says, you need better arguments. You need to look at things the appeal school offers that are missing from your daughter's current school and that are particularly relevant to her. To win, you must show that your daughter will be disadvantaged if she doesn't attend this school and this outweighs any problems the school will face through having to cope with an additional pupil. Arguments about logistics won't get you anywhere - that is seen as a problem for you, not something that disadvantages your child. Your daughter being unhappy at her current school also won't help unless her unhappiness is due to bullying and the school is aware of the problem but failing to address it.

Runforthehillocks · 16/01/2022 09:19

My advice is to appeal to the panel's soft hearts. Stress that not being with their siblings is causing emotional stress, say you are concerned for their mental health. Get a doctor's letter to back this up if you can. Explain that you are concerned for their future relationships etc, anything like that. I work in admissions in an over-subscribed school and these are the things that seem to work best. Distance/difficulty with transport will cut no ice.

gogohm · 16/01/2022 09:55

No, didn't win I'm afraid, I used the "can't do the school run" reason (moved into area and got allocated two different schools for the kids)). A space at my chosen school opened up 3 weeks later

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/01/2022 10:03

We won but the swing factor seemed to be it was for a Military child which the appeal board were particularly sensitive too.

Our case was based on her emotional well being on being separated from her sister.

The official reason we won was the school hasn't applied for the correct process for admitting military children but it was lazy writing in the admissions policy because it implied that any military children that applied had to be given a place regardless of how many children already in the school.

prh47bridge · 16/01/2022 10:14

@Runforthehillocks

My advice is to appeal to the panel's soft hearts. Stress that not being with their siblings is causing emotional stress, say you are concerned for their mental health. Get a doctor's letter to back this up if you can. Explain that you are concerned for their future relationships etc, anything like that. I work in admissions in an over-subscribed school and these are the things that seem to work best. Distance/difficulty with transport will cut no ice.

That is unlikely to sway an appeal panel unless you have a letter from a medical professional to back you up.

Meadowblossom · 16/01/2022 20:38

@Runforthehillocks

My advice is to appeal to the panel's soft hearts. Stress that not being with their siblings is causing emotional stress, say you are concerned for their mental health. Get a doctor's letter to back this up if you can. Explain that you are concerned for their future relationships etc, anything like that. I work in admissions in an over-subscribed school and these are the things that seem to work best. Distance/difficulty with transport will cut no ice.

Really not ok to get a doctor’s letter for this. The NHS is on its knees.