Infant School Appeal

[beth13]

Hi all,
I know there are several threads on this subject already, which I have read with interest.
Just a quick question or two and I wonder i anyone can help, please ?
My daughter has not been offered any of our three choices and has been offered a place at our catchment school, which is not great. However, I need to ascertain whether we actually have any grounds for appeal. Our second choice school has put 'n/a' under the 'infant class size refusal' part of the form, so I am guessing that she wasn't rejected because the class was full ? Does anyone know what this might mean ? Also, I want to find out where she is on waiting lists for the schools we applied for - do I ring the school or the LEA ?
Thank you for reading !
Beth x

Hi,can anyone help me,im going to a school appeal panel monday for infants,i have appealed twice already and was refused so this is last chance.my daughter goes to the preschool that feeds this infants but no joy still,we were refused on being 0.4 of a mile out of cathcment area.there is 40 pupils that have got places,the school she has been offered is walking distance from me but i refused this space as i was bullied at this school and afterwards in later life,i have healthvisitor letter to support this as recieved counciling aswel,so this school is not an option.i also have lots of family and freinds in the area i want her to go to so my family network is there.there was 11 people going to panel for a space at this school but then got a letter to say people have dropped out so it wont be an alday thing with the head master there now.hopefully this is a good thing,im very nervous about going to panel can anyone help,tell me what its like and whats my chances,and how many spaces do they reserve for appeals????????thanx

Hello Brooke.

First things first. They don't set aside any places for appeals, so if your child is admitted it will be as an 'extra'. (I can say more about that, if you wish).

I'm confused by your description. You say you've appealed twice already - do you mean for this school? You can usually only appeal once a year for the same school.

You say that 40 children have been admitted. Does that mean that the school's PAN (which you can find in its brochure) is 40? How are the classes arranged? Is it 2 x 20?

Class sizes in key stage 1 are limited by law to 30 with one teacher. Where schools have 30 children in each infants' class, appeals are heard under infant class size rules. These mean that the panel can only admit the child if there has been a serious mistake in applying the admissions criteria which means that the child lost out.

But if the classes are smaller than 30, those rules don't apply. Instead you would have to show that the prejudice (disadvantage) to your child in not going to that school is greater than the prejudice to the school in having to take another child.

What does the letter from your HV say? You don't have to repeat it all here, but the panel will be looking for evidence that the school you are appealing for is the best one for your child. To be frank, though, I'm not sure how much weight the panel can give to a letter which is about your needs rather than your child's - that's why you need a letter which relates to your child, not only to you. To help you, the letter should give reasons for your child to go to your preferred school, not reasons not to go to the one you've been allocated, IYSWIM.

On the day, the hearing will start with the school/LEA stating why your child wasn't admitted. You can then ask questions. Then you get an opportunity to state why you think your child should be admitted, and the person from the LEA will ask you any questions. The panel should try to put you at your ease and make sure you've had an opportunity to put your views across.

If you give us more information, we may be able to offer more suggestions.

When you say you've appealed twice already, do you mean you've appealed for your other two choices? If so, this isn't your last chance. You can appeal for a place at any school you want, even if you didn't list that school as one of your preferences.

"If the school has 30 in each infant class (Reception, Y1 and Y2) - or would have if all 3 years were full - then your appeal will be under ICS rules"

I have applied for reception class and it has 45 pupils (PAN), but year 1 has 43 pupils, my application is rejected due to ICS. Since the reception has 2 classes with 22 and 23 pupils in each, the 30 limit is not reached. And next year, there will be 88 pupils who will be in 3 classes. So, there will be space for my son. Therefore, I just do not understand why they refused the application referring ICS rules. Do yo think it is correct?

Also, we have recently moved into catchment area and he has a sibling who has been accepted to Year 3 in this same school. Thanks

@srhd23 - You would be better off starting your own thread rather than reviving one from 2010. You may get people responding to the OP rather than your case.

Yes, this is an ICS case. Whilst Y1 only has 43 pupils at the moment, if two more apply they will have to be admitted, taking it up to 45. That would mean 90 pupils in 3 classes. If they admit your child they would potentially have 91 pupils in 3 classes, which would clearly breach the infant class size limit.

The fact you've recently moved into catchment and have a sibling accepted into Y3 is irrelevant, I'm afraid. It may move you up the waiting list, but that is all.

You would be better off starting a new thread. However in answer to your question, they can't give you a space from another year, as if 2 children apply for year 1 next week, they would have to give them the spaces. This would mean a class would be over 30 next year. Also assuming they admit a full cohort of 45 in September, they would have an issue when your DC is in year 2 (assuming they have 3 classes across year 1 and 2). This is known as 'future prejudice' I believe. I understand your frustration, but they have applied it correctly.

Sorry for not opening a new thread. I'm new to here, and this was my first post. Thank you for your responses. Appreciated.