HELP PLEASE - LONG SORRY!!!!

[LesbianMummy1]

My daughter had her letter to say she has not gained a place at the junior school she wanted because we are out of catchment and although her infant school feed into the junior school there were too many applications under her criteria for getting in so they have used distance and we are too far away has anybody else had similar experience and got any tips on appeal?

We wish to appeal as she attends infant school out of catchment due to us her parents receiving homophobic abuse when we lived next door to our catchment school which is infant and juniors we had to move house as a result but unfortunately are still same catchment school. The school she is at now is 1 mile exactly from home the junior school is 1.25 miles away.

My daughter has been awarded a place at another junior school but I am not convinced is the best school for her for a start head teacher doesn't like people to be differen e.g. from ethnic minorities. She has got a few friends going there but not close friends also the times will be difficult to collect my youngest from nursery he has just got in which is best nursery in city so huge achievement to get him in there and feeds onto infant school my daughter is leaving which i want him to attend next year

Has anybody got any ideas on how to boost our appeal many thanx

I didn't think there were maximum class sizes in KS2...?

It is not impossible to get in on appeal
even if the school is full and you cannot prove that the council has processed your appeal unfairly. We did.

But we did have to prove why the school met our dd's needs more than any other possible school and why the disadvantage to her would be greater than the disadvantage to the children already at the school if they crammed one more in.

In our case it was medical and we hadn't provided enough evidence in our original application but supplied it with the appeal. Basically, why dd could not attend the school where she had been given a place (not accessible), why any of the further schools which are accessible would not do even if LEA provided transport (psychological needs of being supported by her friends, school offering counselling).

Our junior school will take more than 30 per class if the total roll doesn't go over 240. So possibly an option?

Yes definitely appeal.Even if the admission criteria have been followed you may still be awarded a place at the school if the independent appeal panel believe your DDs needs outweigh any overcrowding issues.
As you are applying to a junior school they are not as tied with red tape as in aninfants school where they can not exceed 30 in a class.
I think your DD would be in a very strong position at appeal given the abuse issue and the fact that she was at a feeder primary

wThere is a very good book on how to appeal by Ben Rooney.i advise you to get it read it carefully and appeal.

thanx for all your messages will definitely investigate further Katiestar do you know what book called?

The book is called "How to win your school appeal : Getting your child into the school of your choice" by Ben Rooney. I reserved a copy from the library.

There is a government website forum with admissions and appeals experts here www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/jiveforums/category.jspa?categoryID=103