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Secondary education

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Original poster

Anybody else watching the letterbox, waiting for appeal result letter?

113 replies

LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 14:44

It's been a week and still nothing :( It's driving me crazy, I can't seem to do anything except watch for the postman all day!

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cherrybaby12 · 11/06/2014 20:07

Yep, me to. Should be this week as had our appeal last week. Horrible time waiting. It's been a nightmare from the start and never dream end up appealing. If its a no then the next battle is to keep a positive outlook for the sake of our DD. When did you do your appeal ?

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 20:10

Ours was last Wednesday, when was yours? Our letters haven't even been posted yet!

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cherrybaby12 · 11/06/2014 20:34

Our appeal was last Thursday but I know they were still hearing more appeals on the Friday. The panel said approx 5 days so I thinking Friday/Sat post. My tummy is turning over thinking about it. I feel we didn't put our case across that strongly as I was nervous and upset and I'm so not good at answering on the spot questions but did do lots of supporting evidence paperwork and read a 3 page statement out why our child should go to that school. who knows.... how do you think your one went ?

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 20:54

I think our case was quite strong on paper but, like you, I don't feel I answered the questions very well and there was lots I should have said but didn't. The school rep questioning us was very aggressive and this really put me off as I hadn't expected it at all - it was like being in a courtroom drama! I just want to know now as I'm so sick of trying to second-guess it and play through it all over and over in my head - I am exhausted! I keep over-analysing every little comment the chair made too...

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Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 20:55

It irritates me that they say they can't email the letters because everyone needs to receive their letters at the same time, which is why they use post. But surely an email is far more likely to be on time than a letter!

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HouseofEliot · 11/06/2014 21:39

Ours came 14 days after the appeal. I spent every day checking the post. We went away and all I could think of was the letter. I even got my parents to open the post.

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 22:12

14 days?!?!?!?!

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eddiemairswife · 11/06/2014 22:37

You are supposed to be informed within 5 school days of the decision. The panel can't make decisions until they have heard all the appeals for the school.

HouseofEliot · 11/06/2014 22:42

Ours was the week before half term they told us we would hear the following week but we heard the week after. Most stressful time of my life since 3rd March.

cherrybaby12 · 11/06/2014 22:46

wow..the school rep aggressive ! what were they asking ? I had my appeal in 2 stages. The 1st was a day before with all the other appellants. This was our chance to question the LA/School rep in front of the panel and prove the school could take over the PAN. Then our personal appointment was with the clerk, LA rep and the panel. The LA rep looked like she agreed with us by the end by her body language but could take the panel either way when going back over it all. 14 days...I hope to be put out of my misery very soon.

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 11/06/2014 23:08

All the appeals were heard on the same day for our school and it's within 7 days in our area - even that's not a promise though, it's "wherever possible". Cherry, they weren't asking particularly difficult questions (though a lot of totally irrelevant ones), it was the way they spoke to us - my husband was struggling with answering one question and when he didn't immediately answer in one succinct phrase, the school rep snapped "Answer the question!" at him Shock

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cherrybaby12 · 11/06/2014 23:25

gosh...that's horrible for you both. They so know us parents are under so much pressure and at the end of the day its our child's future that will be affected , I don't know why they would take that tone. Sounds very Court room drama. Sorry that you experienced it. I found the whole thing stressful and so glad i'm over that hurdle. I can only keep in mind if not successful that I did all that I could and not to beat myself up mentally what if ? Maybe tomorrows post will bring hopefully good news for you. Keep us posted x

appealtakingovermylife · 12/06/2014 17:27

My appeal was today, were told at the end that the letters will all be posted 1st class on 25th so will receive 2 weeks today, can't cope with the wait.

prh47bridge · 12/06/2014 17:33

when he didn't immediately answer in one succinct phrase, the school rep snapped "Answer the question!"

That is very poor. The chair of the appeal panel should have stamped on that. It is not a court room.

cherrybaby12 · 12/06/2014 20:00

appealtakingovermylife - at least you're through it now. Have that glass of wine tonight. The waiting is horrible. I feel its going to be a no for my appeal. My result is due any day now.

prh47bridge - I have read other posts on appeals , I'm I correct to say you sit on the school appeal panel ? If so, please can I have your advise please ?

GirlInASwirl · 12/06/2014 22:09

We had our first appeal today. We were told that the panel would make their decision today and we should hear by the end of next week. Our appeal wasn't straight forward either - posted in Chat also. We were stopped from questioning the school rep and he shouted at us 'aren't you also putting in an appeal to (school name) too?' to which I asked the Clerk how relevant that was; and reiterated that we were there to discuss the school subject to the appeal' (nipped in bud). Two other incidents of what I would call 'shouting at the the world' were seen after that too. I too wasn't expecting shirty behaviour Lucas - it took a while for us to bring forward what we had prepared. I'm not as relieved as I thought I would be at this stage; and that is because we were side-lined by what happened in the room. I'm glad that I was well prepared on paper as our written summary carried us some way.

prh47bridge · 12/06/2014 23:12

cherrybaby12 - No I don't sit on appeal panels. I help parents with their appeals. I would be very happy to advise you if you post details on here or PM me.

We were stopped from questioning the school rep

If you lose that is potentially grounds for referring the matter to the LGO or EFA (depending on the type of school). You should be allowed to ask any question within reason.

cherrybaby12 · 12/06/2014 23:40

Prh47bridge - thanks, I've PM you.

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 13/06/2014 08:09

GirlinaSwirl, sorry you were bombarded too! We are in exactly the same position as you - our case was fairly strong on paper (imo) but I don't think we did very well in the actual hearing. Part of my problem is that I felt like we were being 'tricked' into saying the wrong thing by the school reps so I was constantly on guard and worrying about what I was saying, so not always answering properly.

The next person who puts junk mail through my door, thereby sending me running in a panic for nothing, will get SCREAMED at :)

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HPparent · 13/06/2014 09:41

Girlinaswirl, I am shocked actually. Why didn't the chair tell him to put a sock in it? That wouldn't happen around here. Was it the Head of a school or the LEA rep. I would make a complaint.

prh47bridge · 13/06/2014 10:00

I am shocked actually

These things no longer shock me I'm afraid. I've come across too many cases where the admission authority's representative treats it like a court case they must win at all costs and the chair of the panel fails to control them.

Having said that, most appeal panels and most chairs do an excellent job. It annoys me when things like this happen. They shouldn't. A chair that allows this kind of behaviour is not up to the job in my view.

GirlInASwirl · 13/06/2014 10:41

Lucas - watching my letterbox even though I know it won't be until next week - what's that all about Grin!

Was awake in the early hours - worrying/mulling things over. I asked my partner if he thought we had done enough - he replied that we did as much as we could without being stopped/interrupted. I am not sure if that feels like real consolation. The whole experience didn't sit quite right with me.

Every empathy with you Lucas. We hope that we will be treated fairly when we go into a hearing and whilst some conflict may be inevitable; I was hoping that it would be expressed in professional terms. It is very difficult to say what you intended to; when the reflective process about others behaviour/questions is kicking in simultaneously. I think to wait to answer is a perfect solution to the problem. I would have been annoyed with being rushed too in the circumstances.

Waiting for results after you have had a negative appeal experience is really stressful I think. Until that comes through; you have no real idea if the panel were fully aware/sympathetic to the pressures you were under.

HP - the chair (lay person) was very quiet throughout the whole hearing actually. I am not sure what had happened before we even entered the room - but there was friction in the air definitely! We were warned by the clerk before we entered the room not to ask any questions which related to school organisation/management (which was the main body of the school's statement). I am not sure whether the school rep was fed up generally or with us specifically (it was a good case). But eitherway; I thought we could have been protected more yes.

HPparent · 13/06/2014 12:17

The whole thing seems bizarre. I cannot understand the clerks behaviour either. The other panellists should have had a word with the Chair and intervened if s/he didn't.

I have never seen a really aggressive school rep of the type you describe. I have had a Head attempt to discuss why particular children (neighbours) got in and the appellant didn't, in a way that breached confidentiality, they got a reprimand which they didn't like. But at least they were relatively polite.

Frankly if a school rep was that obnoxious I might be more likely to find reasons to allow the appeal, so it might even go in your favour.

GirlInASwirl · 13/06/2014 14:01

Yep awkward to sit through. I am all up for healthy disagreement and discussion. Also knew that there were some gaps in my knowledge which the school could help with. Wasn't expecting rep to be so hostile when challenged - what was he expecting at an appeal - really ? I was polite back either way. Think he made some 'facts' up to - but because they were just thrown in - had nothing to counteract them by. Since researched them at home and they do not ring true. He sat and shook his head when I was summing up too (in my periferal vision, also was aware of this being watched by panel member).

Would be nice if panel members do take the stance mentioned in your last sentence. We'll have to see....

Original poster
LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime · 13/06/2014 14:11

Just got the letter - WE WON!!!!!!!!!!! [GRIN] [GRIN] [GRIN]

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