Primary school appeal - going into Y3

[CAmember]

Hi all; dealing with London authority, schools can be hard to get into.

Looks like I have to appeal as DC have now finished (independent) school and our most local school is terrible, we have chosen 2 local schools but there are no spaces.

Child in question is academically highly able (top 1% of pupils their age), but the appeal will be more on social and medical basis.

Does anyone have experience in succeeding with an appeal?

Would you include academics into it?

Chosen school can support pupils beyond curriculum and has record of doing so, its not just an inkling.

Please help a desperate parent.
Any tips appreciated

Presumably, you’re now looking at a state school. The authority is obliged to find a school with a place in the year group you need, but that will not necessarily be either nearby, or one you would have expressed a preference for.

If they have offered a place and you have refused it, they have discharged their duty. They will also say that all schools will cater for a range of ability.

Do you have a diagnosis and current information from medical professionals that indicates that your child needs to attend a particular school, because of their medical needs. I think they will also regard social needs as being able to be met in any school.

Are you on waiting lists for any schools you prefer?

I have to be honest and say your post has raised my hackles (parent of state school educated children). I am sure you don’t mean this, but it reads as though you believe your child should be given priority because they are bright, and previously privately educated. If you come over like this as appeal, you are unlikely to be successful.

I apologise for my thoughts if your child has genuine medical or emotional needs - but if it really boils down to you wanting the better school, well, join the queue (literally, as there will be a waiting list).

If your child is really a 1%er, come secondary school you will have grammar options, so you’ll only have to slum it for the next four years anyway.

Not all areas have grammar schools.

OP the only ground for appeal is process error or exceptional medical/social reasons. You won't win an appeal based on not liking the school allocated, like lots of parents don't. The state sector is like the NHS, a postcode lottery and, unless you are/pretend to be religious, you have to take what you can get if you can no longer afford an actual choice of school now that the government are trying to destroy that too.

Academics are not relevant. Any school should offer differentiated work. You don’t have a right to a place at a nearest school, have you applied and been offered another school?

I don't really understand the basis of your appeal, other than you don't like your closest school? Of course everyone wants to get into the better state schools, that's why they buy houses on the doorstep. It can be quite a shock moving from private to state, and discovering that "choice" is often somewhat of a misnomer really. To win an appeal you need really strong reasons as to why your school of choice is best for your child's educational outcomes.

Social basis would be something like her cousin goes to chosen school and she is really anxious and a medical professional says she needs support of the cousin. Medical basis would be along the lines of she is in a wheelchair and the chosen school is all on one level so she can access the whole school. Remember you are appealing for the chosen school so the features of the allocated school are not too relevant. All schools should be able to cater to a child in the top 1% so that is not particularly relevant to your case.

You need to be clear about what it is that the appeal school offers which your child specifically needs rather than your preference in terms of the school in general.

Appeal based on clubs eg extra music talent, chess club anything the state school
offers that others don’t that specifically works for your child.

The first part is incorrect for y3+.
You can win if the balance of disadvantage to your child outweighs disadvantage to school.

You won't win on academic grounds or ousted rating.

If preferred school has eg orchestra and your DC plays the flute that could help.

Not having a school at all could help, but only if there aren't spaces anywhere, not if you are cherrypicking which school you will accept.

Great post.

Completely agree. So because your child is in the top 1% they don’t deserve the state nearby but a more average pupil does? Please pay for private if you are dissatisfied with state.

It wasnt my intention to brag. Just to look after my child. They do have genuine emotional and medical circumstances which I have proof of; I didnt know if I should include academic side as well.
My child wasnt in a selective school, VAT made it impossible to afford the fees.

Our state primary has had to take some ex private school kids and more coming in September. It’s been fine- the school welcomes the extra funding. As they had gone to large class sizes in the past (up to 34!) and still top the borough on Ks2 SATs some have appealed. I don’t think the head minds given the extra funding.

Does your medical evidence state that only the two chosen schools can meet his needs? Or say something specific child must only be x number of miles from x hospital? I’m struggling to think of medical reason why a child can only attend a better performing school.

What is your social/medical basis? You would need to link it specifically to the school you are appealing to, so eg if your child has a medical need that this school has specific facilities then this could help. But schools - and appeals panels - are really tightening up. It has to be something like if your child is hearing or sight impaired then the school you are applying to has a specific unit or facilities that would support this.

I have discussed of all the reasons with a local pupil services and they did advise me to include social and medical reasons. I just chose not to put sensitive private information on here.
They are on a waitlist for 2 local ish schools, not both super duper performing as that is not my concern as such. Chosen school will meet my childs needs for a couple of reasons.
Maybe I will leave academics out of it as it clearly rubs people the wrong way.

The "terrible" local isnt low performing; there are huge bullying issues and my child wont survive that.

Makes sense, most children absolutely love being bullied. 🙄

Well done you, very witty.
You are effectively attacking a child on the internet, not knowing circumstances, whilst not offering a scrap of advice. Very proud of you.

Thanks for responding on the topic,much appreciated.
Lists get disbanded in July and we will have to apply again. I am gathering evidence as advised by pupil services locally as they felt that is the best route.
My fear is we get offered the most local school which would be a disaster for my child.
We are allowed to list 3 schools; we have visited 2 of the local state schools which would meet my child's needs, we are discounting well performing religious schools as we are not religious. There are some decent schools further out but I dont know them and no idea re waiting lists. They may be absolutely fine. Just trying to avoid the local one with issues.

We are on 2 waitlists already but you are right, we will have to accept what is given come September and stay on waiting list.
Trying to preepmt this by appealing as I know from Y3 legal requirement of 30 pupils max doesnt apply and they can go to 31 or 32

Bullying at the local school will not be a reason for the appeal, no parent will want their child being bullied. You need to find other reasons why the other schools are more suited. You should avoid pointing out perceived flaws in the 'terrible' school. You need to bear in mind that the people on the panel might have children/ grandchildren in that 'terrible' school. It needs to be a positive reason for the appeal school not against the other school. The only time the other school might be relevant is if your daughter was already attending it and there was a strong paper trail of her specifically being bullied.

Even though you are not religious you can still apply to the other schools. If there is a space then they have to give it to you.

Yes; I understand that I can put a "please dont offer me this terrible school" on the application or indeed the appeal. Hence trying to underatstand which criteria I can use to support the appeal. It will be on medical and social grounda as there are some things in chosen 2 schools that others dont offer, including specific therapy. All of which I will be listing. I will leave the academic side out to not ruffle any feathers.
My child's wellbeing is my priority, not their academic achievement. They just happen to be in top 1% and the preferred school has links with local secondary to extend able students. Perhaps its more commonplace than I anticipated.

Local religious schools have a huge waiting list due to being "well performing" on tests. I actually dont like their ethos and that is speaking from experience. We havent applied for religious schools. I do know there are 50 people on the waitlist for one fairly local church school, we have chosen a different one that we believe will address our child's needs. Not a big waiting list but no spaces either atm sadly.

Do you have evidence from medical professionals that your DS either needs this specific school, or what it offers that others don’t? If not then try to get some asap.

However, if it states something like “child’s mother believes x school is the best for their child” that won’t help, it needs to be the medical professionals opinion and not just a repeat of yours.

Trying to get a hold of a consultant on the NHS is almost impossible. I am wating to hear from our GP to be able to provide a letter. I only have general summary letters from consultants; as you can imagine; NHS is overwhelmed just treating patients. My child wanting to die due to medical issues triggered by family bereavment only moved the appointment by 2 weeks, I highly doubt they will be signing any letters.

Please check that the school you wish to appeal for has a medical and social criteria, not all schools do, it will be in their published admissions criteria on the school website.
You will need to evidence specifically that this is the only school that can meet your child's specific needs. Vague generalisations won't help. All schools in theory should be able to cater for all children, unless the child has an EHCP naming a specific school.
A year 3 appeal would be based on you proving , as said above, that the disadvantage to your child is greater than the disadvantage to the school/the other pupils in the school by admitting your child. If you're talking about medical and social need, what specific things does the appeal school provide?
Always remember as well that they are preferences on the form, not choices. It may seem like semantics but it's an important difference. In independent schooling, you actively choose, state schooling you'll be allocated a place where there is a space within a reasonable distance. Bullying can be atrocious, it won't count for an appeal.
Focus entirely on the specific things your preference provides and do not criticise the school allocated.
Is this a theoretical appeal as I can't see where you say you've been allocated a place?