Has anyone appealed against their allocation and been successful?

[princessosyth]

Found out that ds has been allocated a place 5 miles away. I don't drive and have checked the bus timetables and found out that we would have to arrive at the school 2 hours before it opens and hang around for 2 hours after it closes. My appeal would be on the grounds that our local schools should increase the number of places. Anyone have any experience?

No experience but sympathya s that is ridiculous!

Hope you succeed

Isn't it the case that if you are allocated a school more than 3 miles away, then the Local Authority is supposed to provide transport? Not absolutely sure of this, but worth contacting the admissions office and asking.

I think the local authority would have a duty to pay the taxi fare under those circumstances. Which might enhance the attractiveness from their point of view of increasing the number of places in your local schools.

Have you raised the issue with your local councillor? Can't do any harm, and might help.

Did you get your forms in on time? I have heard of this sort of allocation happening in that circumstance.
This happened to my brother, his ds got a place in the school eventually (they missed the deadline for getting the application in by a couple of minutes).
If you were on time, I would suggest you go forward with an appeal on the transport grounds. You can also ask to be put on the waiting list for nearest school. There is always some change in the numbers with people moving or changing schools.

Schools can go over their PAN with permission from LA

If your child is a young starter (summer baby), you could wait and start school at a later date and hope a place becomes available at the nearest school as long as you go on waiting list. I think the term they are 5 is latest you can wait legally although usually start before that. This can be a bit risky though, a place may not become vacant.

Ring your Local Authority admissions office and explain the situation. Ask them what they advise. You may be entitled to transport help.
Good Luck

We had a similar problem and successfully appealed.

Other people's advice on here is good but if you want to go to appeal, post here and I will try to advise!

Have appealed 3 times 3 children 3 different schools and won all three.
If you live in a village transport is usually provided if its the nearest school for you.
living in london we have buses all hours but kids still leave at 6.50 ,7.30 and one walks so leaves at 8.25 !

if the school nearest to you is full find out what radius its children come from if you are closer than a few appeal .

also are you going to have this problem with secondary education? if so move accordingly thats what its come to now , pretty hopeless situation nationally.

Appeal panels are made up of local authority rep. and general public who sit with an unbias view and a legal bod to ensure everything is above board(no back handers etc).
If successful the school take the child within its intake and the child is not known to have gotten there on appeal.

p.s my last appeal 140 appeals heard 4 got places including our daughter!!!
Dont be put off though.

Thanks for advice everyone. UnquietDad I would be grateful if you could let me know the basis of your appeal.

Many thanks

Don't forget every situation is different, so the best thing to do is get the DfES documentation and see which of the grounds for appeal fits you.

We appealed on the grounds that it was "unreasonable" - long bus journey, disruption to the day, etc.

We also played games with the numbers - the reception class had 15, but that was because it had a staggered intake. We argued that they either needed to admit that there were places, or admit that it was already over-subscribed (numbers were to go up to 32 after Christmas) and get another teacher. We argued that the school were trying to have it both ways!

I know lots of people who have had successful appeals.

Our school has an intake in each yr of 80. If more than 80 apply (sometimes happens) then only 80 will get a place; but if the rest appeal and there is space in the school (usually is - only 60 in DD's yr for eg) then they will get in.

So what I'm saying is check the numbers in school as a whole/number in the class etc. You sound like you have a good case in other ways. Are you in a very rural area or why is the school 5 miles away?

Thanks UD & Clary. Interesting points.

With regards to the LEA paying for transport round here they do as long as your allocated school wasn't one of your three choices