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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Help please with appeal

7 replies

mumwhereareyou · 23/04/2012 15:03

Hi

We have just had a phone call from the school that I want my DD to go to asking where her appeal is ( hope this is a good sign). Anyway explained that our LEA told me I couldn't put appeal in to after 1st May when 2nd rounds were done.

Anyway am just going to do it on line but we don't realistically fit any of the criteria. We are outside of catchement area, don't have any siblings there and school is always over suscribed.

DD is adopted and as of next year she would have got a place becuase of change in admissions rule.

Will it be alright to say that we want her to go to that school becuase it is a single sex, small naturing school and she really wants it. She is also a v sporty person and would/ could do a lot for them at atheltics which they are trying to raise their game in.

If anybody could help would really appreciate it, have explained to my DD that it is unlikely but their HT told me that if we really want it then to fight for it but I just don't know what else we can do.

our LEA is Lincs just in case anybody interested and it is NOT a grammar school that we are appealing for.

Many thanks for reading all of the above.

OP posts:
countydurhamlass · 23/04/2012 15:55

you say dd is adopted - how long ago was she adopted? are her friends going to that school? could you argue that she has already had a big change her life getting a new family and its in her best interests that she does not have any more upheaval, her friends are going to the school and that you are concerned that it will not be beneficial to her emotional health if she has to go to a different school to them and have to make new friends all over again!

is it a C of E school, Catholic school or anything where you can argue grounds of religion ?

janeyjampot · 23/04/2012 16:09

You need to show why that school is the right one for your DD, so you need to find out what it offers that is different to what others offer, and then demonstrate why that particularly meets your DD's needs, with evidence if you can.

For example, if they offer better sports facilities than others, and your DD is very sporty, could you get supporting letters from clubs etc which showed your DD's interest?

Does it offer different options or after-school clubs? Would these particularly suit your DD?

The people who hear your appeal will be independent, so your comment about the school raising their game would not be particularly relevant.

mumwhereareyou · 23/04/2012 16:51

Thank you , have just been and spoken to our HT and she is going to help me with it as well.

She has no friends going there as both her friends passed the 11plus ( goes to small school with just 9 in the year).

Will look again at the after school clubs and also will mention that her brother goes the SN school in that town as well.

But feel a bit more postive now in our chance now.

Thanks

OP posts:
Towib · 26/04/2012 10:37

I'm in similar position. Don't think I stand a chance tho but the school DS got is rumoured to be on point of going into special measures so am going to try anything. Someone told me to go on Rightschool.co.uk on the appeals page there's some numbers on there for free appeals advice. We can't afford a lawyer!!! Good luck with your appeal.

prh47bridge · 26/04/2012 10:42

If you post details you will get lots of good free advice here from people who know what they are talking about. I would not recommend using a lawyer in any case - they generally don't understand school admissions, even if they specialise in education, and I have known some cases where lawyers have thorougly alienated the appeal panel by their behaviour.

Towib · 26/04/2012 11:16

Absolutely the advice here is great. The website I said has a link to a children's voluntary education advice service that wants to give equal chances to all children so they'll help you to put all the stuff you learn here down in the right words and get on the right side of the panel. My brother-in-law has sat on panels and he said they def want you to be natural. (I'd better not be too natural as I'll prob break down and cling to their legs sobbing. Middle ground I think) It's www.rightschool.co.uk btw

Towib · 26/04/2012 11:31

Just checked and it's a government recommended service so I'll ring them later anything's worth a try

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