Primary School Appeal

[Sunshine1984]

I was wondering whether there’s anybody out there who has experience of primary school appeals who may be able to help me please?

I have an appeal meeting early next week regarding my DD’s reception school place.

The appeal is due to my DD’s emotional well-being. We did not receive a place at our first choice school (nor any of our other 3 preferences). I can go into more detail about the premise of the appeal if required. This would be above the 30 PAN limit so the reason for the appeal is ‘an unreasonable decision’ which I know has a very high threshold.

Further to this, we were first on the waiting list for our first choice school. I was told on 16th May when I called admissions that we were still first. The cut off date for consideration for reallocation was 3rd May. However, I have now seen in my appeal pack that a place was declined and then offered to somebody on the waiting list. It also says that they were a late application. So my question is, if their application wasn’t received before the cut off (3rd May), should they have been offered that place? Would that not be breaching the process that they’ve set out? I am aware that this child lives closer than us so if the application was received on time then they would have been given the space.

Thank you if you’ve got this far!

I suspect the 3rd May deadline is just administrative unfortunately. Waiting lists have to be held in admissions order, so if someone moves to the area (or even just changes their mind), they can't be told they are too late to go on the waiting list. Assuming they applied for a place before the space was available, then the process has happened correctly.

I agree with BendingSpoons. If the place had not been offered to the late applicant that would have been a breach of the Admissions Code and would have given them a strong case for appeal. The Admissions Code is clear that parents can apply for any school at any time. The council cannot refuse to consider applications just because they have been received after an administrative deadline.

I thought (although strongly hoped not!) that might be the case. Thank you for your responses. I guess I just need to go in, be completely honest and strongly hope for a sympathetic panel :(

I don't think I'd even bother to be honest. You really have no grounds for appeal.

I haven’t shared the details of my appeal on here. I am aware of the high threshold, and also that in a small minority of cases, appeals are upheld. I would rather try and fail than not try but I know many wouldn’t and I respect your opinion.

In Infant Class Size appeal is a review of the process, given the information available at the time. Unless there is maladministration in the process, given that you applied on time, you have an almost non-existent chance of winning it.

Why is your first choice school necessary for your child's emotional well being? If it's just to be with her peers then an appeal won't be upheld.

I disagree. As OP says, she hasn't shared the details of her case. Even if she doesn't have a case within the ICS rules, she won't lose anything by trying and occasionally something unexpected emerges in the hearing that shows a mistake has been made.

Thank you. Your comment is much appreciated. I do have reasons for the appeal of course, but whether it will meet the unreasonable threshold is down to the panel. I would also like to ensure that no mistake has been made. I at least then know that I have done all that I can.