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Secondary education

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

Original poster

APPEAL for secondary school stressed

78 replies

sham80 · 28/03/2014 14:51

hi my firsT post so stressed can anyone help me as am so stressed whith the whole thing a have a child who goes primary school in heaton mersey and we been given secondary school offer for priestnall my boys extremely upset being burgled twice his not happy travelling by bus and its more convenient for him to go priestnall high so a can pick both boys up you think a got chance of appeal we going through hell at the minute

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slowcomputer · 25/04/2014 11:41

I'm a GP, the letter would need to say that in the GPs opinion your son should go to that school for these reasons. I have to warn you that the wording may not be accidental, unless I know the family very well I tend to write "the mother has told me that".remember that the GP has no knowledge of the school and is only going on what you tell him/her and may be unwilling to be more strident.

prh47bridge · 25/04/2014 12:46

The sentence "His mother has requested my support..." needs to be changed to say, "In my opinion he needs to be placed at a school where he will have...".

As the last poster says, you may find the GP is unwilling to do this. You can still submit the letter as evidence but the panel may not give it much weight.

Original poster
sham80 · 25/04/2014 13:22

thanks prh and slowcomputer have contacted secretary she might change it if not then submit letter thanks appeal date is friday may 2nd so monday will post all supporting letters btw how smart can you dress on appeal day or casual dress

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Original poster
sham80 · 25/04/2014 15:11

update letter cant be changed by another docter and the docter who made letter away til wednesday just brilliant and this letter doesnt look promising

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Original poster
sham80 · 25/04/2014 15:11

not feeling very hopeful

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eddiemairswife · 25/04/2014 16:08

How you dress won't sway the panel either way. Not too keen on dads in vests chewing gum, but would never disallow an appeal on those grounds.

Georjean · 30/04/2014 11:34

Could anyone offer some advice please? We are about to go through a secondary school appeal on the grounds of ability in subject and social reasons (friendship group). Preferred school is an outstanding maths & science college, allocated one is a needs improving language & arts college. Our son is achieving way above his age in Maths, and is about to take part in the UK Maths Trust Junior Challenge (for Y8 and below) this week. As his junior school weren’t prepared to register him for this, I contacted his allocated school to ask if he could sit for the test alongside their students, to which they agreed. Being realistic about our chances of success (we are 1 of 20 appeals) we see this as a positive step for him to spend a bit of time in the school, and for him to be on their radar in terms of his ability. Where it becomes complicated is that a main part of our evidence is his achievement so far in past papers done at home, and the fact that he is able & motivated enough to participate in the challenge. Are we likely to be asked where he is sitting the challenge, and if so will it go against us that it is in the allocated school? Thanks in advance. BTW I have read the posts so far and take on board the good advice offered to others.

admission · 30/04/2014 12:19

No it will not go against you that you have used the allocated school. In fact it could help in that you are able to say we accept we may have to go to the school if the appeal is unsuccessful. However the whole point of the appeal is the strength of the preferred school in maths, which is son's area of ability.
If possible you need very clear proof - not past papers done at home. Can you get information on current capability from junior school? Without it I fear you have a weak case.

HPparent · 30/04/2014 12:21

No it definitely will not go against him. If you have evidence of his achievements in maths or the social needs please submit them. The panel need to see evidence.

Original poster
sham80 · 30/04/2014 12:21

hi well as of today my boys moved up from 25 to 19 on waiting list for secondary school is that a good place does there me much movement or thats it ?and got my appeal on friday cant wait to get it over with as been very stressful

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Georjean · 30/04/2014 13:15

Thanks for this. Unfortunately his current school haven't been very helpful. They've provided a summary of his level achievements, but as he reached the highest level in Y5 they don't show much, and he's been pretty much cruising since. He is entered for all the Level 6 Sats, but these will be after our appeal date. The results of the maths challenge will be also be through after. He has consistently done harder maths work at home than he has been doing at school. Out of the 6 past test papers he's been scoring at Olympiad level in the Junior, but also highly in Intermediate (Y9-Y11) which is exceptional, but the past papers are all we have to show this. One of the main reasons for wanting the preferred school is that they have a clear, comprehensive Policy for More Able pupils to track progress & ensure that they reach their potential. I am going back to current school at least to ask them to include his expected Level 6 results, but for some reason they are not happy to support pupils with school appeals. Any other ideas?!

I am obviously mindful not to come across as "my son is the best thing since sliced bread"! but I need to get across that he is exceptionally able in this subject. How do you think the panel will view this? He has in the past been made fun of and bullied for being a "clever clogs", which I plan to mention but this hasn't been documented so I have no evidence. Thanks

HPparent · 30/04/2014 17:20

You could try bringing a sample of his work and a textbook to show the level he is working at. Otherwise several hundred quid might get a report from an Ed Psych or similarly qualified person who could test him? Even so no guarantee you will win. Do you have any correspondence from the school - old reports which refer to the importance of the social group?

I would be wary about talking about low vs high achieving school. Just try and emphasize the maths and perhaps link that to social group and self esteem. I think you need to be prepared for the appeal to be rejected though.

On a more positive note, it rounds like he would be greatly valued at the new school and as he is already on their radar that would be a bonus. If that school has setting he should be fine.

tiggytape · 30/04/2014 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sham80 · 02/05/2014 14:31

well after all that stress and waiting I had my appeal hearing today was just my self there so does this mean other people who appealed been called at different days and times? can I ask a question does the appeal panel have the authority to give me a school place near my house wasn't allocated it in first place or just between the place allocated and the one am appealing for

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HPparent · 02/05/2014 14:38

Appeals may run over 2 or 3 days and appellants are seen at different times (though some hold a group hearing for the first part).

The panel only consider the school appealed for. They definitely cannot allocate another school entirely.

Good luck with your result!

Original poster
sham80 · 02/05/2014 16:01

thanks hpparent looking hopeful I was a bag of nerves 1 one of the panels was very moody couldn't look me in the eye didn't talk much but a was polite .they asked why not the school near me a said a wasn't allocated it was on my preference.and etc told them why child would benefit from school etc and what he been through with gp letter tution letter and they had no reported incidents when I asked they had gone over in previous years he replied not that I no off

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Feelingfighty · 09/05/2014 09:31

Can you update us, please, sham80?

Original poster
sham80 · 09/05/2014 12:56

thanks to everyone for advice you all helped today recieved the letter and unfortunatly lost the appeal we had docter letter and other supporting documents but lost so upset dont no what else i can do

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Zingy123 · 09/05/2014 13:42

Sorry to hear that Sham80. Hope your son gets on ok with his allocated school.

Original poster
sham80 · 09/05/2014 14:04

zingy thanks he still very frightened since break in so scared of going alone on transport am thinking to do trips to the allocated school on bus in holidays to make him feel little relaxed etc

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HPparent · 09/05/2014 16:29

Sham80 sorry you didn't win. Pester your GP for a CAHMS referral. I know a girl who was very worried about travelling alone. After support from a psychologist she felt much more confident and was able to manage it.

Original poster
sham80 · 09/05/2014 16:57

hparent a recieved cahms appointment letter on day of my appeal even took that letter to prove not making it up lol btw is this it you cant appeal or do anything after this?and does there be much movement on waiting list we on 19

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prh47bridge · 09/05/2014 17:30

Unless there was something wrong in the way your appeal was conducted I'm afraid this is it. There is no further appeal.

LIZS · 09/05/2014 17:35

Sorry it wasn't successful. Could you work with the allocated school regarding his transfer, perhaps they could buddy him up with an older boy who travels the same route for example. Alternatively could someone else take your younger son to school or use before/after school care so that you could accompany ds1 ?

Feelingfighty · 10/05/2014 11:33

Sorry to hear that sham80 but I'm sure things will work out in time for you. It sounds like a good idea to do the school run in the summer holidays and you should be as encouraging and calming as you can with your son as your actions/emotions will have an effect on him. Good luck.