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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Appeals process for primary school - return to area after work secondment

24 replies

poolcrew · 18/04/2024 17:10

Hi all

I know there are a few people here who have experience with the appeals process so I just wondered if you could provide any advice or tips.

I doubt an appeal would be successful for me as I know they are notoriously hard to win, but we had to move country for work 4 years ago. We are now going home but cannot get into the school we left, or indeed any of the ones in our catchment. I know schools can't be expected to keep a place open and I am on the waiting list but wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation

Thank you!

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dammit88 · 18/04/2024 17:11

4 years is a long time! On what grounds are you wanting to appeal?

PuttingDownRoots · 18/04/2024 17:12

How old is your child, and what year group?
Are you a government employee, or private company?

Original poster

poolcrew · 18/04/2024 17:17

I have 2 kids, one in year 6 and one in year 5. The council have told me I need to get the year 6 in for the last 4 weeks of term even though we will have finished the school year where we are. She is top of the waiting list but year 5 child is currently 9th. I was hoping she pull get a place and then I would have sibling link.

I work for a private company

To be honest I don't know what grounds I would appeal on, we don't have any educational requirements that only this school can fulfil. I'm just clutching at straws and seeing if anyone had a similar experience.

OP posts:

titchy · 18/04/2024 17:19

If ones currently in year 6 isn't getting a secondary school place for September more important?

Original poster

poolcrew · 18/04/2024 17:26

@titchy I've already done that

OP posts:

PuttingDownRoots · 18/04/2024 17:29

Are you actually in the UK yet?

Original poster

poolcrew · 18/04/2024 17:34

@PuttingDownRoots we are half and half at the moment. I needed to be back in the UK but kids are still away. I didn't want to disrupt their education more than I had to. I also applied a few weeks too early. I've since been told I should have applied 2 weeks before the space was required

OP posts:

Charmatt · 18/04/2024 17:53

Whereabouts are you moving back to? A bit of local knowledge may help you.

titchy · 18/04/2024 17:58

If you've got the year 7 place sorted, and your younger one is on the waiting list, can't you just stay where you are, or if you're in the UK, home educate your year 6 for a term, then appeal for the younger one.

BendingSpoons · 18/04/2024 18:00

You don't HAVE to send the year 6 to school. You can if you want, but it's not compulsory. Depending in when they come, you might not get a place in time anyway. An appeal will be too slow for this, as it will take a while to be heard.

For your year 5, I would apply again nearer the time they are moving over and see what you are offered. They will have to offer a place somewhere. If there are genuinely no places near enough, they can ask a school to go over 30. I think this might qualify under fair access protocol. However they won't do this if another school within a reasonable distance has a place. You could consider appealing if you are unhappy with the allocation, but it will take a while. Success odds aren't great, but it is a bit easier at junior age, as it is a prejudice appeal. You can also request to go on waiting lists.

prh47bridge · 18/04/2024 22:39

Once you move to the area the LA must come up with places for both your children.

I wouldn't bother with an appeal for your Y6 child. It won't be heard in time to make any difference.

The good news is that infant class rules don't apply at this age, so you can win an appeal by showing that your child will be disadvantaged if they aren't admitted to this school. You do not have to show that it is the only school for your child. You simply have to show that it offers things that are not available at the allocated school and that are particularly relevant to your child. There is no need to compare with other schools. The only schools that matter in an appeal are the allocated school and the appeal school.

Original poster

poolcrew · 31/05/2024 09:47

Hi everyone, just wanted to say thanks for the advice I was given and provide a quick update.

I submitted a letter to my local MP explaining our situation. Off the back of this, we have been offered a place at our chosen school for my year 6 child, but not my year 5. I've written to the school as advised by the council to see where we feature in the waiting list as we now fall under the 'existing sibling' category as well as catchment. It's currently half term so I'll see what they respond with, and then submit an appeal if they still decline.

@prh47bridge I've seen you give some fantastic advice on other appeal threads so just wondered if there was anything else I should be including. Thank you ❤️

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 31/05/2024 09:57

By the time they've answered and you've appealed, it is likely that you would be appealing for a place in Y6. As per my previous post, you need to show that the disadvantage to your child from not being admitted outweighs any problems the school will face from having to cope with an additional pupil. You need to identify things this school offers your child that are not available at the allocated school. If you have any ideas, post them here and I will be happy to advise how strong your arguments are.

Original poster

poolcrew · 03/09/2024 05:36

Just wanted to resurrect this post as I am still awaiting a place at a local school for my now year 6 child

I accepted a place at my chosen school for my now year 7 daughter, giving my son sibling link as well as catchment. A space never opened up for him so he didn't end up going back to school for the remainder of year 5 as we were declined from the 8 schools we applied for. We are on the waiting lists for all but have dropped to 3rd and 4th due to movement to the area. He has gone from 1st on the waiting list to 4th.

He has now been offered a place at a school 4 and a half miles away.

I have an appeal date set for 12th Sept. These are the only things I can think of to include without going down the 'school we have been offered is too far away' route which I know will be irrelevant.

He was top of the waiting list from June to July and would have been given a space should one had opened up
The reasons given to us for decline were based on catchment and we were catchment as well as sibling link
He has a proven track record at the school we are appealing for. Can school advise how taking him would be detrimental to PAN.
Have the school gone over PAN previously and did it have an impact on its published academic results?
The school he has been offered feeds to a different secondary school. He will be moving again in Sept 2015 and have to make brand new friendships. He has the opportunity to rekindle past friendships by going to his old school. Majority of these children will go to the same secondary school
I have provided personal recommendations from his previous teachers which include details about his personality, abilities and interests

@prh47bridge I know it's so hard to win an appeal but do you think any of the above will hold any weight? Appreciate any insights you or any other posters can give!

OP posts:

pinkfleece · 03/09/2024 05:46

From previous threads none of those seem grounds for appeal......

prh47bridge · 03/09/2024 07:13

1 and 2 only help if you have evidence that a mistake has been made and he should have been given a place.

4 may help a little if the school has previously gone over PAN.

I'm afraid the remainder are irrelevant for appeal and won't be given any weight by the panel.

You need to identify things that the appeal school offers that are not available at the allocated school and are particularly relevant to him.

Original poster

poolcrew · 03/09/2024 07:24

Thanks all. There is nothing specific this school can offer other than history. I'm not optimistic but I have nothing to lose by trying. Wish me luck for the 12th!

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 03/09/2024 07:31

Good luck!

crumblingschools · 03/09/2024 07:37

That distance isn’t very far

Original poster

poolcrew · 03/09/2024 07:46

I'm not disputing the distance. While it's not one of the 8 schools that are nearer, it's not the end of the world to get to as it's near my office so I can drive him in. Work are being very nice and letting me take my lunch break to collect him. DH can't drive so can't do it and there's no direct bus route. We have been told we are not able to get help with transportation but that's ok

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 03/09/2024 11:26

poolcrew · 03/09/2024 07:46

If it is more than 3 miles by the shortest safe walking route the council is required to provide free transport. This could be a bus pass or similar if it is possible to do the journey in a reasonable time by public transport. However, if there is no suitable public transport the council is required by law to sort something out.

Original poster

poolcrew · 03/09/2024 14:26

The council have said that there is a place in a school 2 miles away so as I have 'chosen' not to send him there they won't help. It's in special measures so I'd rather deal with the distance. I have submitted a case for transportation assistance though so I will follow up on that depending on how the appeal goes

OP posts:

Original poster

poolcrew · 12/09/2024 10:59

Just wanted to let you all know that my appeal was successful!

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 12/09/2024 11:15

Well done.

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