My turn now Secondary appeal feedback need please? *Sigh*

[whoisyourverybestfriend]

Hi All
NC due to Personal Deets on other threads completing a jigsaw

Just been sent the pwork for my first prefence - on the waiting list (7th) and may have a good chance getting through the first stage of the appeals process ( School effectively said put us first and we will make space for you.. you will get in no probs blah blah) but thinking ahead to the second stage I intend to use the following reasons and would welcome your input

• DD is avid about History - we regularly attend Museums and exhibitions she has an interest in the Classics and Medieval periods (no idea how I prove this ) and the preferred school offers Latin as an extracurricular club ( our allocated school currently offers Latin as a GCSE but they are under consultation to change to a Co-ed - which may result in Curriculum changes ) The school has great results in History GCSE - This may sound odd but DD loves Mary Beard and wanted to try out Latin ( we did Cambridge Book One) only two schools within a 10 mile radius that do not have religous criteria offer this ( state)

The school I want DD to go to has a Performing Arts specialism and it's own Theatre. DD has been part of EXtra Curricular Orchestra Club since Year 5 (auditioned with her Ukulele and Irish Pennywhistle) and Drama she has also been in singing club. Crucially - being able to attend these extracurricular activities has increased her confidence and self esteem ( it had been noted that she has confidence issues in her reports). Being able to particpate in Performing Arts gives her a boost WITHIN the classroom to speak up and question the teacher and get more out of her learning it seems. Since she was taught in Y5 by a great Teacher who was also a stalwart of Community based Drama and Theatre her Maths levels in particular have come on leaps and bounds - she needs to have confidence in her abilities she gets this by particpating in Performing Arts . Notwithstanding this she loves the arts and wants to make it part of her school life for next few years

Size of school /breadth of curriculum =- preferred school is v large therefore able to offer more curriculum choice in year 9 than most e.g Geography and History can be taken if preferred , French , Spanish or German. 40% of Children take seperate sciences, . Local schools are smaller with limited curriculum....not sure how to word this but DD is academic but also loves Drama/Theatre/dance I want to give her the best choice possible at GCSE level in order to facilitate subject choice at Alevel and therefore her preferred career / university course.

Lastly I'm not sure I can bring this up but a Co-ed school is preferable for DD rather than an all girls school - she has a wide range of friends boys and girls at school at the moment The only other school with all teh facilities we think would be good for DD and the LAtin would be single sex at least until Year 10.

When I write this down it all seems rather flaky - how could I evidence this it is not the kind of thing you get Doctors notes for??

Any advice feedback welcomed

Saw one of the other parents last night who mentioned that the school had implied as their own "Admissions Authority" will push those who appeal through somehow though a meeting before it gets to appeal stage ... i'm not sure this can actually happen? Does anyone know?

Hmm. It sounds as if the school is planning to play fast and loose with its Published Admissions Number (PAN), either by raising it or ignoring it. Something you said earlier made me think that might already have done this. Obviously, this could benefit you, if it happens, but it would be bizarre if (in effect) the school were to create an unofficial final admissions criterion saying "none of the above applies if you submit an appeal". That would open them to all sorts of challenge.

Schools can admit above their PAN if it does not affect other local schools but this is supposed to be agreed in plenty of time for it to happen before the allocation of places on March 1st.
In reality the school will now be saying that they are coming under a lot of pressure to admit above PAN - look at the number of appeals - and on refection they could admit more.
However they are taking a risk if they just allow those who have appealed a place because as soon as it happens others will apply for a place. At appeal the panel's first question is going to be on what basis did you decide to admit extra pupils. If they say we admitted another class (so 25 to 30) then that would be accepted if they say those that appeal, the panel is likely to say well you took those so you can take these extra ones that appealed as well.

Yes, that's what I mean about playing fast and loose and about future challenge. There's a procedure for increasing PAN and it doesn't sound as if the school is adhering to it. Pre-empting appeals by admitting anyone who has lodged an appeal before it's been heard would create all sorts of hostage to fortune.