Appeal against refusal of school place - any experience anyone?

[fadingaway]

We are to move to a rural area shortly and I have applied for school places at the local RC school for my DD aged 10 (nearly 11) and DD aged 3 (soon to be 4).

Got a place okay for the 10-year-old, given she'll only be there a few months anyway before she leaves for secondary school, but 3-year-old refused reception place on account school's full.

Headmistress was foxed as to next move as has never had this situation before, but has simply sent me the appeal papers and said she will say very little (?)

Papers look a bit daunting - any advice or experience anyone? Much appreciated

Good morning fadingaway,

I went through an appeal last year with DS.

Don't panic, prepare well and consider using an appeal specialist - they are worth every penny.

Not had any experience of dealing with a RC school as I believe they have different admission criteria but have emerged through an appeal alive

Let me know if I can help

thanks for that Smurfs - any idea where I would get a specialist from?

I don't know where you are but I'm in the north-east...

Thanks again

isnt it a case that you put her name on the waiting list and simply wait for someone to leave? or do you expect them to increase the class size to accommodate your child?

Haven't been in quite your position, but similar:

We were due to move house at the end of ds1's first term in Reception. I phoned the school of our choice and was told that they were full, but would put him on the waiting list if we applied. Our sale fell through, and we didn't move until the end of the following term. Just on the off chance (you don't ask, you don't get!) I phoned the school again, and was told that a child had left so there was a place for ds1 as long as he took it up that term. If we wanted ds to start the following term he would have to go on the waiting list as they were full for the summer term intake. So ds1 started school just before the end of the spring term, rather than with the summer term intake which was what had seemed more logical.

Previous to that, ds1 had been refused a place in our catchment school, as well as in two other schools - we had applied to 4 - because they were full. By the end of the summer holidays he had been offered places in two of the three schools who had him on their waiting-lists.

All I'm saying, really, is that things can change. You should still appeal, though, if you definitely want her to attend that school. I don't know what grounds you'd have, but having a sister in the school at the time she starts should help you.

Are you RC? My mum was in a similar position and teh appeal was a formality. The school wanted my sibs to go there but couldn't just let them in as it would have caused havoc with appeals from non-RC applicants.

Hello fadingaway

sorry for the delay, the company that we used was schoolsappeals.com - you can download quite a lot of info. from their website for £5 or £10 - can't remember exactly.

also have a look at threads in education that I am on or tell me how to do links and I will do it for you

unquietdad is also an expert on appeals he has been through 2 and is a calming voice when all seems bleak - you could always start a thread asking for his help!

let me know if you need anything furthur

Smurfs

If you are a practising RC it would be well worth speaking to your parish priest, they will often support your appeal.

Hi Smurfs
Me again, have looked through and can't seem to fimd the other threads but your help would really be appreciated.
Dd is on the continuing interest list at no.2 for the moment at the school I want. I have social reasoning for her not to go to her allocated school which the continuing interest panel have accepted, however they want my reasons as to why my chosen shcool is the only option for her. Was just wondering whether you have any pointers in that direction, spoken to the team who have said that the smaller year size and the fact her friends are going to that school as well aren't factors that will count. I am appealling as well and wondered if you could recommend an appeal specialist, how do they work etc. I've spoken to one appeal specialist who says my case is appealable, but I am slightly wary as they can't give me any further info until I pay.
All of your help really is appreciated, Thankyou

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=43&threadid=474385#9581744

...not very good at links will cut and paste and see if that works!

Unfortunately if the reception class has 30 places and is full there's no chance che will get in on appeal as class sizes cannot be over 30 by law. It's worth checking to make sure she's on the waiting list and seeing what place she's at. If the waiting list is managed by distance, keep school ionformed of your move and once you're in your new house, provide them with the evidence so she'll move up the list.

If the class size is less than 30 but there's still no place, you'll have to prove at appeal that admitting your dd will not 'prejudice' the class by having an extra pupil. The links the other's have provided should be useful.

We went through the appeal process for dd1 last year and unfortunately did not win. Luckily, there was a withdrawl from the school at the last minute and dd1 was admitted from the waiting list.

it seems to have worked...hurrah!

Have you spoken to the LEA - I got to phoning them very regularly so that they would recognise my name and in the end they were very helpful with the info that they gave me. I used to phone up to clarify points, check info ask their advice - bit of sunshine blown their way always helps!

Which appeal specialist have you spoken to? From memory Schools Appeal spoke to us on the phone and then we arranged to meet in person to go through our case. That meeting cost £200...ish. Very useful said very wise things like don't even mention Private Schools being an option as case will collapse on that alone etc etc. I then emailed all my reasons/points to them and they critiqued it all and took a little of the emotion out of it I did numerous drafts on this! I also had representation on the day. The chap from School Appeals that we used sat on Appeal Panels in a previous life so had the inside knowledge that we wanted/ needed as there were very few reasons that DS should go to that school except we wanted him to go to it. We didn't have a strong case except if I am honest middle class angst at allocated school. All in all we had little change from £800-£1000 but less than private fees!

Let me know if I can help furthur.

Thanks very much.