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Original poster

School appeals - How long should I wait?

29 replies

Doonuts · 21/05/2015 03:18

We had our school appeal on the 12th May. We were told that they had appeals up until 19th May and we would get our outcome within 10 working days from 19th May. This seems such a long time so I googled the appeal code and it states that the appeallant should hear ideally within 5 days, not even 5 working days. Can any clarify this? I am going insane hear.
Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 03:20

*here not hear. Hmm

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ButterflyUpSoHigh · 21/05/2015 07:07

I believe it's school days. We had a bank holiday after ours and it took longer to find out. I feel your pain it's so hard waiting. Ours allowed 1 out of 78.

prh47bridge · 21/05/2015 07:50

It is 5 school days, not 5 days. The requirement is, however, qualified by saying "unless there is good reason". The fact that there are other appeals for the same school is good reason as the panel must not decide any appeal until it has heard them all.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 09:36

I thought that. The school last year had 98 appeals and only 2 were successful Sad.
Prh47bridge do you know how long the process of making the decision is? A couple of days? A week? I'm assuming they'll have around 100 appeals again.

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tiggytape · 21/05/2015 10:10

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 10:28

Thanks tiggytape that's exactly what I thought too. I just needed it clarifying. I'm guessing the appeal code is just a guidance and not to be strictly adhered to with regards of the outcome within 5 days?

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Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 10:30

Sorry I see what you mean. I've just 're read.... Night shift brain. Thank you.

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prh47bridge · 21/05/2015 11:08

Prh47bridge do you know how long the process of making the decision is

The short answer is as long as it takes. They need to consider each appeal properly. Even if it only takes them 15 minutes per appeal (which is probably optimistic) that will still take the best part of a week with 100 appeals to consider.

Zanussi · 21/05/2015 13:05

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 18:45

Thanks Prh47bridge I know what you say makes absolute sense. It's the manic mum inside me making me totally irrational Confused.

Zanussi that is a brilliant time scale. I'm so happy for you! In hindsight I was desperate for the appeal date, but I now realise it would have been better if I'd have been one of the last as this wait is pure torture!

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LaughingHyena · 21/05/2015 19:03

Im feeling pretty lucky after reading this. We got a phone call a few hours after the appeal to put us out of our misery. We still have to wait a couple of weeks for the official letters but at least we know what we're dealing with already.

Ours was the last hearing, I don't know if other families got their results so soon after or whether they have all gone out today.

tiggytape · 21/05/2015 19:17

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 20:33

Tiggytape do you know if schools ever have an absolute limit of appeals they can accept?

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ButterflyUpSoHigh · 21/05/2015 20:58

My friends daughters school allowed 47 appeals as they made a mistake with the catchment area. Unless something like this has happened I think it's usually only a maximum of about 10 or what the school can cope with.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 21:14

Wow butterflyupsohigh!! That's insane did throw the school into chaos?

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FatAli · 21/05/2015 21:19

Like Zanussi, our panel was almost 2 hours.

We had it on Wednesday and the letter was on the doormat Saturday morning.

Good luck, Doonuts!

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 21:22

Thank you so much! Were you successful fatali? I'm a little jealous of all these short waiting times. Roll on 2nd June!

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ButterflyUpSoHigh · 21/05/2015 21:59

Yes they had to have extra classes and bring in some portacabins. Some how the council system got the catchment area wrong. People who should have got a place didn't and people who shouldn't have got a place did. They couldn't remove the places given in error.

FatAli · 21/05/2015 22:04

yes, successful!

prh47bridge · 21/05/2015 22:15

Tiggytape do you know if schools ever have an absolute limit of appeals they can accept?

No they don't. It is entirely up to the appeal panel.

Original poster
Doonuts · 21/05/2015 22:41

What a nightmare butterfly!

Huge congratulations fatali!!!GrinWineStar

Thanks prh47bridge.

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Naynay2408 · 24/05/2015 11:57

Omg I'm reading this thread and totally feel numb. In hearing when we entered room we were told they will make decision today!!!

Our hearing was at 9.45, I saw 3 parents (couples). I was case 66, and told there is over 100 appeals. The panel said they have hearing early afternoon and will make decision by end of the day.

Shoot, does that mean they already decided no appeal will be upheld! The time frame to consider each case seems crazy and short. The clerk said she will write letters on Tuesday so we should receive by end of week before school starts.

Original poster
Doonuts · 24/05/2015 23:12

Naynay I'm sure thats not the case. We lost a week as the appeals didnt finish until 19th, then according to the appeals code its 5 school days from then.....well its half term here now Sad

The wait is such a killer. It's well and truly taken over my life!

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prh47bridge · 25/05/2015 00:39

does that mean they already decided no appeal will be upheld

They cannot make that decision until they have heard all the cases. If they really were following the timescale they indicated to you I would be concerned as to whether they were truly independent. So that may be something to take up with the EFA if you lose your appeal.

Etak15 · 25/05/2015 00:58

That does seem a long time to wait but sounds like it's within there time limits - bet you'll get letter on tues, when we appealed few yrs ago for dd1 we appealed for two schools (appeals were on same day same panel different clerks) we got the letter for the unsuccessful appeal first after a week we'd used same reasons etc so I thought well that's it - will be a no from both for some reason the other one didn't come on time I rang and they said letter is here ready to be posted so I asked if I could pick it up - couldn't wait another day! And appeal was successful the unsuccessful one was school with intake of 30 the successful one was intake of 75 I think obviously my reasons were good enough to win appeal in the school where they could make space but they can't make space when it's only an intake of 30 - well they can in some circumstances but obviously not in mine!

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