Appeal In Hertfordshire

[welcome13]

Morning all,

I wanted some advice we are appealing for our local school as my son didnt get a space we was told they accept all faith and have to worship regularly in the local parish which we do but it was not accepted because it was not a church its a mosque. This school is always oversubscribed as its very good its our closest school we would only have a chance to get in through the last admission criteria but if no children are admitted in the last criteria how would any other faith have chance to access the school. I know its their admission but i feel its not fair when we can show we worship regularly and committed to god. Has anyone been through anything similar im christian and husband is muslim and our son is being brought up in the islam faith but we want his to learn all faiths too. I believe the criteria should be worship regularly in the parish regardless what faith you are

Also its synagogue not sinagog

Zlmono
Your message made me really laugh. What's wrong with our society is ignorant people like you. All of our schools in this area are church of england or Catholic. Why should we not be able to send our child to a outstanding school this school also recognises all faith thats why we chose it they teach Christianity also Islam and Judaism at a young age and its our closest school but they do go by distance in their admission. We have been accepted into a different cofe school not one of our choices but declined because of other reasons and have now been accepted into a Catholic school now which is just "good". If there was a option for a Muslim faith school we would chose that but there is no option. Rishi sunak created a new policy where church of englands schools should accept other religions not just Christianity. In Islam they recognise Christianity and have similar beliefs but wouldn't expect you to comment as you probably haven't read the bible fully or the Quaran

Your life must be that miserable to comment on a spelling mistake i feel for you

Rishi sunak created a new policy where church of englands schools should accept other religions not just Christianity.

Other religions are accepted, but it is still allowed for faith schools to prioritise their own religion.

ETA was any policy introduced? This looks like there was a consultation but no change:
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-abandons-plan-to-scrap-free-school-faith-admissions-cap/

You dont need to feel sorry for me.

I have enough basic intelligence to
A. Read and understand a school admission policy
B. Not waste the time and resource of others with baseless appeals when my child doesnt get into an oversubscribed school they dont meet the criteria for...

Rishi sunak created a new policy where church of englands schools should accept other religions not just Christianity

No, he did not. And to say again, you won't get anywhere arguing that the admission criteria should be different. The admission criteria you describe for the school are legal and comply with the Admissions Code. The fact you don't think they are fair and think they should prioritise all religions is irrelevant. You will not win an appeal on this basis. Unless the admission criteria are contrary to the Admissions Code, the appeal panel must work with them as they are, not as you or anyone else would wish them to be.

Calling another poster ignorant simply because they disagree with you is not the way to win any arguments.

I just feel like its unfair alot of people in our area and others feel the same too. Their admissions states church of england worshippers only which I don't expect them to change for me but what.im saying is I feel it should be all religion that worship in the area its a very small area so should be for everyone to access regardless of religion or race. I am a Christian and British and thats my opinion. And you have attacked me here saying my right to appeal is a joke and I shouldn't appeal against this and saying about my spelling that's a low blow

In which case your appeal is doomed to failure. Your right to choose not to raise your child as Cof E or RC, but you cannot then demand a place at schools which prioritise their faith, over those who practice. Where is your child on the waiting list?

And you have attacked me here saying my right to appeal is a joke and I shouldn't appeal against this and saying about my spelling that's a low blow

@prh47bridge has said none of those things, being an unfailingly polite and helpful poster of many years’ standing.

You feeling that it is unfair does not mean that you have a good case, or indeed, any kind of case, for appeal.

(I think the majority of people in this country would abolish faith schools if they could choose, as they perceive unfairness in faith being a criteria at all, but that doesn’t win any appeals either)

The time to challenge this is when the admissions policy goes out for consultation. Unfortunately, though, feeling that it is unfair is unlikely to get them to change it.

You may well be a British Christian, but your child is not - and they are the ones needing a school place.

The criteria has been adhered to. Oversubscribed by siblings and children who are of the school's predominant faith.

The fact you don't see it as far and still continue to argue says a lot. You don't have a leg to stand on unfortunately as knowledgeable members in the educational sector have tried to tell you.

Go ahead - appeal if you wish, but you're fighting a losing battle and have been told so.

And you have attacked me here saying my right to appeal is a joke and I shouldn't appeal against this and saying about my spelling that's a low blow

You are confusing me with another poster. I have not said any of those things.

Agree with others – if the school’s criteria say places go first to those who are of the school’s faith (Catholic or other Christian) and the available places are filled from that criterion, then processes have been correctly followed.

The school may accept other faiths – I am sure it does – but only if there is space – ie not enough (30/60/90 depending on intake) DC who are of Christian faith want a place.

You may think this is unfair @welcome13 and I agree with many ppl on this thread that faith schools are an oddity that should not exist in 2025, but those are (presumably – since you have not shared them and may not even have checked) the criteria this school uses for admissions.

You of course have the right to appeal; but people are rightly pointing out that you will have no chance of success and will be wasting the time and energy of a number of people.

Btw all primary schools AFAIK teach about all faiths. A Catholic school tho IME is pretty stuck on to focus on the Catholic faith.

I would big up the school where you have a place and stay on the other school’s waiting list if you want to.

ETA: And yes, it’s not the knowledgeable and helpful @prh47bridge who said the things you objected to.

Thanks all for your advice and comments some productive and not so. I have the appeal in a couple of weeks will post how I get on 🤞

It is absolutely your right to appeal, but I would urge you to consider your grounds for appeal and what you say to your child. If it's an infant class size appeal, you absolutely can not win on those grounds. If it is not an infant class size appeal, you need to convince the panel that your child needs so much that it outweighs the difficulty the school will have in accommodating another child. You will be wasting valuable time if you talk about the fairness of the criteria because the panel can't consider it.

Years ago I went to Hertfordshire appeal for my daughter's school place in reception from same school nursery class. She was behind in development and my argument was that it would not be beneficial for her to be removed from the setting and staff she knew.

The appeal was like being in a court dock. Very intimidating with a panel of people firing statements as to why the school could not accommodate my daughter. It was brutal and extremely challenging. It did go in my favour - I counteracted their statements. If the dining hall was too small for one extra child - no problem, I'll bring her home for lunch, etc. I know I was extremely fortunate.

Be aware that they will have more reasons to deny your child than you can provide logical arguments for - they are oversubscribed. They do not have to admit your child at all. If your only reasoning is 'fairness,' that really will not wash. The panel can't and won't answer to that as the criteria set has been adhered to. A million and one parents could present a 'fairness' claim. Other than that, you really don't have a strategy which could work.

@welcome13 I'm Muslim and while I get where you're coming from, I don't agree. I visited my local Catholic school because it's the best in my area and my neighbours' kids went there. Within 5 minutes it was clear my child had zero chance of a place because it was so oversubscribed by Catholics. Was I disappointed? Somewhat. Did I think it was unfair? Not at all. Catholicism underpinned the very ethos of the school and characterised the school day. I'd have had to opt my child out of so much observance there'd have been no point sending them there. If they let everyone in it wouldn't be the same school.

Plus it sounds like there are other good schools in your area, as there were in mine. I wouldn't set too much store on an Ofsted Outstanding rating. As someone who's been there, it really isn't as important as we think it is. Pick the school that you like and that you feel is a good fit for your child, and all will be well.