Secondary school admissions appeals

[FelineLou]

I attend these appeals as a panel member. I want to emphasize the need for unemotional, genuine reasons for the appeal together with paperwork which helps to prove your arguments.
e.g. No good saying "he cant climb stairs" without a doctors note about that.
I feel for all the parents in this situation but we do have criteria to stick to and we cannot make extra places in a very popular school.
Don't assume that just because you appeal you must get a place: more appeals fail than succeed.
We try to be informal and are aware that it is a difficult time for you but there is a structured procedure to go through.
Read all the advice in leaflets and online before presenting your case.

[leosmummy2010]

PatriciaHolm- thank you so much for your reply! I’m very grateful!

[PatriciaHolm]

Leosmummy - it is true but it is only a minor point unless they end up with lots of children admitted over PAN.

Schools are funded based on the number of children on roll on autumn census day which is in October. This determines the funding the school get for the Following year (so the number of children in Oct 18 determined the funding the school get for 2019/20).

So their point is that if they had say a year full up to PAN of say 180 in Oct 18, that determines their funding for this Sept onwards. If they are forced to take over PAN due to appeals and end up with say 182, those other 2 children are not funded for 19/20.

In reality all schools will say this as part of the prejudice argument, alongside only having enough chairs/ipads/pcs for 30 in a class, narrow corridors, etc etc. It is true, but it's only a minor point unless they end up with a fair number of pupils over the census number.

[leosmummy2010]

Hi there, my appeal is next week and the school which is an academy is saying that if my child is admitted the school would not receive funding for her and would suffer financial hardship. Is this trie? I can’t find any evidence to support or negate this?

[Panth76]

That is what I thought - makes sense! Thanks

[RedSheep73]

I'm no expert but I'm sure the school gets the same per head for a child admitted at appeal as for any other child

[Panth76]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me - that is really helpful. I contacted the Appeals Administrator yesterday explaining that I've not had information requested and also not received the AA's case - still waiting to hear back. I will chase them again. I will be printing off all the correspondence and providing it to the panel as I feel they have not been overly helpful and I believe I am entitled to a reasonable amount of time to consider their case - I had to give notice on 28 March and they've had all additional paperwork since 8 April. I've only asked for standard information (class sizes/net capacity assessments/ numbers on roll/pan etc) - nothing unusual. There is no 6th form at the school (it is Yr7-11 only) and this is why I thought the figures were strange as it seems they are operating at about 82% of physical capacity depending on what top end figure is correct. The school had an extension in 2015 which presumably accounts for the larger physical capacity. The LA produces a consultation document every year for planning school places and that says that a school is deemed full if it is operating at 95% capacity according to National Audit Office advice and that the LA aims to create a 5% buffer as they say the school was operating at 96%. However, the percentages they detail and the numbers for NC and NOR don't tie up with what they are saying - in 2017 they were operating at 82% capacity and the top figure for net capacity has changed from one year to the next (going down from 1775 in 2017 to 1611 in 2018) but there is no explanation for the reduction - I've included the relevant paperwork with my d's appeal and asked for an explanation. I've contacted the school directly and they've confirmed that they are fully staffed in line with funding levels. Am I correct in thinking that if the school has to take additional children as a result of an appeal, the school will receive additional funding? Thanks

[admission]

If you have appeal next week and not have had the schools case and other documentation about the appeal, then you need to be urgently contacting the Admission Authority to tell them this. You should then also bring up the issue at the appeal that the timing was not good.
In terms of net capacity data etc, if you have written confirmation of asking the questions and have not received the official information then this also needs to be raised during part 1 of the appeal as they should have supplied the information.
Taking a bulge class is fairly common now, so I do not think that greatly helps your particular case other than proving that the school can handle more pupils than the 300 in the year group.
If the PAN is 300 then there will be 1500 places in years 7 to 11. Is there a sixth form or not because whilst they will be counted as part of the net capacity of the school, the admission level will be less than the 300 in year 7. If there is not a sixth form then you are correct in saying that the PAN seems to be at odds to any of the net capacity of the school.
The net capacity of the school is a calculated figure based on measurement of appropriate rooms in the school. That gives what is deemed the maximum net capacity for pupils in the school. Normally the school then is given the leeway of choosing a sensible PAN to fit between the maximum net capacity and 90% of the maximum. So if the maximum net capacity is 1500, then 90% of net capacity would be 1350. The school would then set the PAN probably at 1350, which is 45 classes of 30 or alternatively at 1410 which would be 47 classes of 30. I am not sure whether this is what the NAO is referring to or whether this is something different but again you should bring this up at part 1 of the appeal.You need to have written evidence of the LA wanting this to happen for the panel, they will not just take your word for it.

[Panth76]

Hello, I wonder if anyone might be able to help me. I have my dd appeal for a secondary school next week. D did not get a place in our catchment school which is o/s. Over the last 2 years the school has taken a bulge class, but this year has reduced its Yr 7 PAN back to 300 from 330 last year. My d was allocated a school in district (though not our catchment school) but it is single sex and we desperately wanted co-ed. Anyhow, it is a maintained school so the AA is the local authority and I have asked for but not received net capacity assessments and some other information. I have also not yet received the AA's paperwork/written case which I have chased today. I have found discrepancies between the LA published planning/consultation documents which suggest the school has a net capacity of 1775 in 2018 and 1611 in 2019 - currently there are only 1552 on the roll. I don't understand how a school can have such a large under-utilised physical capacity but limit its PAN. I have read that the LA aims to achieve a 5% capacity buffer at each if its maintained secondary schools as per National Audit Office advice, but the purpose of the capacity buffer (according to the NAO advice) is to enable parental choice and operational flexibility. If the higher net capacity figure is correct then the school is operating well below this capacity level - do I have a chance at establishing the PAN is too low or am I barking up the wrong tree? The school has confirmed it is fully staffed in line with funding availability. I just wondered if anyone had every tried this tack before and whether they had any thoughts/advice? My stage 2 case is not overwhelmingly strong, but I have made various arguments regarding the suitability of the school for my d and her specific academic strengths (it is a specialist school), social/community (all her friends from our village have been allocated places at catchment). She is extremely upset - and I just want to give her the best possible shot. Very grateful for any advice!

[admission]

There is an obligation within the school admission appeal guidance in paragraph 2.8. It says "admission authorities must comply with reasonable requests from parents for information which they need to help them prepare their case for appeal. "

[leosmummy2010]

Hi there,
I have submitted my appeal to an academy and awaiting a hearing date. I have sent the school a number of questions to prepare my case and they have refused to send them stating that ' all of these matters will be dealt with at the appeal hearing itself, where the school will provide information and answer any questions you may have as a result.'

I am certain that they have an obligation under the freedom of information act or appeals code to answer these. Can anyone advise please? x

[corythatwas]

Think of it from the panel's pov. The school with the best results is full (that is why you are having to appeal in the first place), so somebody (in fact, probably quite a few somebodies) is going to have to go to the school with the less satisfactory results.

Is there any reason why that should be somebody else's child rather than yours?

An appeal to a full school really needs to show why your child can't be expected to put up with their lot as well as the other children who are in the same situation. You only have the interests of your child at heart: the panel has to think of the interests of all the children (including the ones in the popular school who would suffer if their school became over-crowded). They may have 50 appeals to the same school to deal with; they can't let them all in because there isn't the physical space.

[abigailsoph]

what about stats for KS4 level 2 achievements with regard SEN or FSM; e.g. the 2 schools I'm looking at don't have a significant gap - both 88% ish, but the percentage of FSM pupils that achieve KS4 L2 (inc maths and English) is 16% vs 64% - huuuuge difference. Would that be a valid point to make? - cheers

[mint123]

Hi,

I have a panel hearing next week. We didn't get our first choice because we are way out of the area the school is located. We lived in that area so my other kids are in schools that are near by our first choice.
We've got a letter from her school that states my daughter have had social and confident issues and it would benefit her if she could attend a school where she'd be able to see familiar faces. Most of her friends are going to the school that was our first choice. Also got a letter from our gp doctor stating that,since she knows which school she has to go she shows symptoms of anxiety. There are other issues such as verbal abuse from the local kids where we live and these kids attending the school she got the offer. It's a good school,have the same rating by OFSTED as our firs choice. Would the mentioned issues outweigh the prejudice the school might have if they admit her. They reason of refusal is overcrowding and health and safety issues.
Thank you for any advice.

[PanelChair]

Thank you!

Here are some useful tips for appeals. Anything here about infant class size will (obviously) not apply to secondary admissions appeals.

[ButterflyUpSoHigh]

I don't know how to do a link but it was posted on 4/10/2011 I searched for admissions tips.

[PanelChair]

I've been trying unsuccessfully to find BetsyBoop's thread, because it had a long discussion of the dos and donts of appealing. Is anyone else better at searching then I am?

[PanelChair]

Bumping this thread because the general information on how to approach appeals is still relevent (although I'd suggest that anyone wanting advice now starts their own thread).

[cory]

If you can get the medical profession on your side for this, you might also want to argue that he would benefit from the independence of a school journey that he could manage unsupervised, i.e. a more local school. But don't even try without evidence.

[cory]

Remembering that what you do with language is essential.

"I am not letting him catch two buses" will sound emotional and irrelevant; it also sounds a little hectoring and is unlikely to get the panel on your side.

"As letter A, from ds' Ed Psych explains, his condition makes it difficult for him to manage travelling; he would therefore benefit from the local school" is far better. It focuses away from you and your feelings and puts the focus on something objective that can more or less be proved.

[cory]

Also, I found it very helpful that there were two of us there: dh was able to take notes and keep track of proceedings while I did the talking.

[ForeverProcrastinating]

Thanks PanelChair, I hear you and do see your point. It was just for moral support to ensure I didn't reduce myself to a gibbering wreck and the things that need saying get said -I'm not good in these kind of situations, my mind goes blank.

[Theas18]

Presumably you didn't get your 4th choice- the nearest school, because though "nearest" you are still outside the distance at which it filled all it's places? The fact that it was 4th isn't relevant if you met the criteria for a place and you didn't get one in a higher preference school you should have had a place there. However if the school filled at 0.5miles and you are 0.9 you don't get a place what ever I'm afraid.

Check what the school/LA says about distance - if they have incorrectly applied a distance rule you have, I understand a strong appeal reason.

The journey thing isn't grounds to appeal. Assuming they pay for transport. 2 buses isn't a big deal at year 7, it really isn't. It's normal for very many kids (mine included if they are not up in time for the slow no change route!)

High levels of SEN is no grounds either (again the appeal is FOR school A not against school B). In fact many would suggest that this allocated school is actually well set up to recognise and work with his APD, allowing him to achieve his full potential, whereas a school with low levels of SEN might go " APD what's that?"!!

What was and why was your 1st school put 1st?

[cory]

Also, don't forget: if you can get medical evidence that he is unable to cope with buses, they may give him a place on disabled transport. Dd travelled to secondary in a taxi though the school wasn't very far away. (You have to make a separate application for this with the LEA). Just make sure you get it on paper.

[cory]

We were unable to get a statement due to the complete unhelpfulness of the LA (they told me straight out that they do not issue statements for physical disability).

We got in on appeal by providing exact letters from GP/paediatrician etc, giving evidence of exactly the reasons we had adduced in our appeal letter.

So:

dd needs wheelchair access = mention of this in paed's letter

dd needs a small school so she can be encouraged to walk for short distances = mention in paed's letter that dd should be encouraged to walk for short distances, so needs small school, but also has to have wheelchair available

dd is psychologically affected by her disability and needs to go to same school as friends who can support her = letter from psychologist who had seen dd, explaining how she is affected and what she needs.

dd cannot travel long distances= mention in paed's letter of travelling exacerbating condition + letter from GP confirming frequent medical appointments locally

the preferred school was the only one that could meet above needs= dh had brought plans of all the schools to demonstrate their layout and the presence/absence of lifts

(Obviously I had explained to the paed/GP/psych exactly what I was going to need; in fact, I had put it in writing to them)

I couldn't believe how much spelling out we had to do.

We had originally explained that dd was a wheelchair user and that this school was the only choice with wheelchair access, but it turned out that was not good enough for the LEA, because it was not on their list of schools with disabled access.

On enquiry it turned out the school was not fully equipped with aids for the visually impaired and this was why it hadn't made the list. Their conclusion was that because we had applied for a school not on the disabled list dd couldn't really be disabled, so the disability issue could be discounted.

So I had to sit in front of the panel and explain very patiently, without betraying the slightest sign of irritation, that if you are a wheelchair user with normal eyesight, provision for the visually impaired is not really that relevant but wheelchair access is.

It was stressful but oddly satisfactory.

[Martorana]

It doesn't sound ridiculous at all. But it's really important to concentrate on why you want school X rqther than why you don't want school Y. Be careful about using the travel thing- everybody feels that their children can't possibly manage the travelling- but a couple of weeks in they are jumping on and off busses as if they've been doing it all their lives. Focus on what the school can offer him. Get an Ed Psych report.
And have a go at the journey- it may not be as bad as you think, which will at least ease your mind a bit while you're going through the process.