Appeal Secondary School

[techcorp]

Hi All

Just want some advice on how to go about appealing against a decision for Secondary school. My daughter has been offered her 2nd choice. We really wanted the 1st choice. Here is a little about the school, circumstances and what I've found out so far. I have a concern how the school allocated places so want people's opinion. I can discuss other ways after discussing how It was allocated

Our first school is a relatively small school therefore limited numbers so little room from flexibility. It is a faith based school so had to complete a supplementary form which I did.

1-3 criteria's were the the common ones eg siblings, special needs and social circumstances which we didn't fit into.

4 (edited) - girls living in the city of who themselves or their parents from one of the areas named below (places to be allocated proportionally)

Number 4 as per above went down to each area. Don't want to to go into specifics what I mean by area. We had to get our supplementary form signed by our area faith leader. There are 14 areas with each area having a specific number of places. Our area had 14 spaces.

In the notes section it said - Random selection will apply as stated above to the % of places allocated for each area. Where there are more applicants for the available places within categories 5, 6 and 7 (this was other faiths and other girls), then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the school
and the home.

I enquired with the school why my Daughter was declined a space. I was advised we were the furthest from the school.

My initial query is distance should not have been used. As I completed the supplementary form a random draw should have taken place. I believe instead of a random draw for the 14 applicants they used distances as a deciding factor. They should not used this method. I was given this information over the phone. I intend to send them an email to get this is writing. Can simply say please confirm what you said. Do not want to mention method as of now as they might change their story.

Please advise from the reading the above what people think and whether anyone thinks incorrect method of allocation has been used. If it has obviously will mention this on my appeal. Also what does this mean in regards to my daughters application. Does this increase her chances? Do I have grounds of appeal. Please advise. Am I correct in my understanding or have I understood it incorrectly

Do you mind me asking what faith you follow?

Going to this school will help her in following her faith
No other school will have that faith environment
The above statements sound most unlikely

The assumption seems to be that non-faith schools don't promote the values that are common to most mainstream religions.

But those values will be shared by all faith schools, by and large, not peculiar to the only school op wanted?

But those values will be shared by all faith schools, by and large, not peculiar to the only school op wanted

There are a wide variety of faith schools. The majority are Christian but we also have Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu schools in England. The faith environment in, say, a Hindu school will be very different from that in a Christian school.

techcorp - On the question of what to say about faith, I would be cautious. You may get an appeal panel that places great store in faith issues but you may get a panel that feels uncomfortable. I would keep faith to a minimum in your written submission - perhaps a sentence or two - and talk instead about the school's ethos. In what ways does the school's faith affect the way it deals with pupils and how will this benefit your daughter? Does it, for example, have a particularly caring ethos? That is an angle most appellants won't think of and which is unlikely to make the appeal panel uncomfortable. It is also the kind of thing that will help win your appeal. If, when you get to the hearing, you realise that the panel does want to hear about the importance of your faith you can expand on that in the hearing.

prh47bridge - agreed.

I would rather not reveal my faith on a forum. Those who are curious or would like to know more can PM me.

More than likely the person reading my appeal (if from school) they will most definitely be able to relate to what I say as they will be from the same faith as me.

I did mean schools of the same faith; I thought that was obvious...

Does the school arrange its own appeals, or does it delegate them to their LA as some do in my LA. The panel may not necessarily share your faith, and should be independent and impartial.

prh47bridge - Could maybe cut down and elaborate on the topic on the day of the appeal dependent on who I get on the appeals panel. Like you said yes they may feel uncomfortable.

eddiemairswife - As per the LA website the governors of the schools do the appeal. This may not be the case. If it is I presume they will share the same faith.

Will probably cut down to a paragraph and If I feel they would listen to my argument surrounding the environment of the school I can elaborate when i'm in front of appeal panel

As a (former) appeals panellist I'd still feel very uncomfortable if a substantial portion of an appeal basically centred on 'we didn't win the lottery for a faith based place, but my DD's faith is so important that you should award her a place on the basis anyway. And I say that as a parent of 3 children who all have a personal active faith independent of our faith as their parents.

So, I agree with Prh (as ever) that you can avoid that potential conflict by shifting your focus to the secondary benefits that come with education at your chosen faith school. Pastoral care, curriculum focus?, Particular visits? Etc. If you can make it more objective then you can avoid looking like you're just trying to buck the system.

lougle - thanks for your comments. It is good to hear from an existing panellist and someone who can relate to faith. I do get your point about putting too much emphasis on "didn't in lottery for a faith based school. bt my DDs faith is important.

I will now reduce the faith aspect of appeal after hearing various views on this matter. You're all helping me immensely so thanks.

After all this I do hope I win appeal as have spend so much time on this.

The governors of the school may present the case for the school, but they won't be on the panel.That is not permitted ( School Admission Appeals Code 1.7b)

I think I've worked out which school it is too.

The Appeals Panel will not consist of Governors from the school. They may present the care for the school, that it is full, but they won't be the ones deciding whether to admit your daughter. The panel itself will consist of 3 people, who must have no connection to the school, so there may not be anyone on the panel of the same faith.

As others have said, the fact you meet the faith criteria and the school accepted this means there really is no need to elaborate in depth on this. Maybe a couple of lines. Given her family are clearly religious, the assumption will often be that you can support her in her faith outside school and school isn't essential in this support.

Bullet points make things much easier to read, and much easier for the panel to refer back to if they want to ask you questions during the appeal.

Exceptional family circumstances - did you mention this at the time of application? If I've got the school right, then it has a category 3 which is Special Medical/Social circumstances - if you didn't fill this in, the panel may question why, and whether the circumstances are really that significant that they require this, and only this, school.

I think you may have to spend some time thinking about the transport issue some more. At secondary age, 3 miles is considered a reasonable distance for home to school transport. Anything below this would be your responsibility.

I think most panels will not be swayed by an argument that an 11 year old has never caught a bus and therefore shouldn't have to and needs a closer school. In any case, I strongly suspect that they would say that as allocated school is 2 miles away, it can be walked, negating the need for a bus. Or that you can walk with her. I have sat on panels where there have been truly awful journeys (think two children at separate schools, 1 mile apart, starting at the same time, Mum doesn't drive) and there was nothing we could do because they were infant class size appeals. There is more wiggle room in secondary appeals, but unless there is a compelling reason why your child is different to other children, she'll need to learn to get there.

FWIW, my DD1 has been going to school by minibus since she was 4 years old and she has learning difficulties. It wasn't a nice thought, I didn't enjoy sending her on a bus, but it was fine. We got used to it very quickly and it became part of her day.

PatriciaHolm - As you have highlighted and having re-read the information on LA website I now know I misunderstood it will be the governers of the school. I have now removed the faith element from my appeal letter.

Exceptional circumstances - I did not mention at the time as it is not directly linked to my Daughter. Without going into detail too much as not appropriate on a forum - It is a long shot and will depend on the panel's discretion on weather they can take into account or not. I have to try as if I don't I have very little to go by. I really want my Daughter to go to this school and she also really wants to go there. Whether they choose to accept will be up to them but no harm in trying.

After reading people's views and reading other threads I feel I do not enough to go by. I will still appeal and hope I get someone who understands my circumstances. It is difficult to prove it has a link to this school.

I wish I had the expertise and knowledge you guys have knowing exactly what to write and knowing exactly what appeal panels look at to make my appeal stronger.

lougle - I am no longer using Independent travel in my case. I am using a travel scenario but on another angle. Unfortunately again I cannot write on a forum as it would be revealing very personal circumstances.

It is always worth appealing, you never know what will come up, and it is absolutely your right to try. You will always regret it I think if you don't.

I'm happy to take a look at what you have written from a Panelist point of view if you wish to PM me. I'm in different part of the country so no chance of my sitting on your panel!

I am also happy to look at your case if you want to PM me.