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Secondary education

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Original poster

Secondary place withdrawn today please help

449 replies

Middleoftheroad · 13/06/2017 15:50

I am still shaking

I have equal ability twins. One got into grammar one did not. We moved closer to be near the grammar and to secure my other twin a place at the local school, which we did at the start of March.

We have been through much heartache as this is a new area and a new school and my boys have been sad. I worked with the LA to secure the place after we moved. because we moved around offers day we were originally offered a failing school in our old LA which we declined once we had the new offer at the local school.

We did also appeal the grammar place for the comp bound twin - we proved his academic ability and the HT (presenting officer) said we gave a very persuasive case, but we were unsuccessful as they never allocate places on appeal. The boys wanted to be together but we were safe in the knowledge that whatever happened we had a comprehensive school place.

The twin who is going to comp has previously been under CAHMs for anxiety. He started to display these signs again so we took him to the doctor and have been working really hard to gee him up.

Tomorrow was meant to be a special transition day at the new school (he watched his twin go off to the grammar one yesterday) and we were looking forward to it.

out of the blue the HT of the comp calls me today to tell me that the LA has made a mistake in allocating its places and have withdrawn the place. The school wanted to let me know before the LA letter arrives so we don't go to the event tomorrow.

I have emailed my contact at the LA (ironically she is in appeals) the last place offered was 1.02 miles we are 1.04. I suspect they are currently allocating appeals places which we have missed the right to appeal. she says she is looking into it but as of right now we have no school place and I have a son on his way home who will be broken if we tell him.

We've had such an ordeal to get here. Aside from being morally bankrupt, is there a legal leg to stand on here? Apparently the LA messed up on quite a few offers made.

I just don't know what to do. I took the call at work and had to leave early. we have bought the uniform and built up to tomorrow. I am in total disbelief and feel sickened that my son is being messed around this way.

I have emailed the school again to ask that they intervene. Please help Tiggytape anybody?

OP posts:
BigDeskBob · 22/06/2017 07:31

I'm so sorry that you are going through this, it really shouldn't have got this far. I hope it gets sorted soon.

Ill be thinking of you today, best of luck.

Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 22/06/2017 07:33

Thanks - your posts help. Our GS appeal a few weeks ago was a feakishly hot day. DH was in a suit and I was in work wear too. It didn't help as we were sweltering.

Great tip about taking a moment at the end - I don't want to come out wishing I had asked this or that. Last time I did not show much emotion and regrettef it but today, although I will be v professional, I do feel extra tearful and suspect this week of pain will pout out somewhere. I look about 100.

Shock
OP posts:
Original poster
Middleoftheroad · 22/06/2017 07:34

feakishly and pout? need my specs!

OP posts:
Ceto · 22/06/2017 07:55

The bigger issue with all of this is that the MAT seems to be skimping on legal advice itself, otherwise it wouldn't be getting it all so wrong. I'm really hoping that at this stage they will finally make the right decision, but if they do I would suggest that when the dust has settled you contact whoever is in charge and suggest they contact solicitors who actually know what they are doing on this (e.g. Veale Wasbrough or Simpson Millar) to get their admissions and appeal procedures thoroughly checked. The fact that neither the head nor the chair know they they shouldn't be discussing appeals with each other is absolutely astonishing.

LIZS · 22/06/2017 08:04

Wishing you success today, what an appalling way to treat you and your 11 yo Sad hopefully he may never need to know.

wheresmyphone · 22/06/2017 08:41

Good luck. Thinking of you.

PossumInAPearTree · 22/06/2017 08:44

Good luck

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 22/06/2017 08:52

Thinking of you today OP! Appeals are ridiculously stressful and nerve racking!

Longji · 22/06/2017 09:00

Good luck for today OP!

SnowBallsAreHere · 22/06/2017 09:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1493968689 · 22/06/2017 09:03

Good luck for today, I went through an appeal a few weeks ago, there was 65 appeals so didn't hold much hope, but thankfully we were successful. I did get very emotional, which was a genuine response to a stressful time. Hope all goes well for you, it's a terrible thing to have happened.

Ketzele · 22/06/2017 09:08

Good luck OP Flowers

Seeline · 22/06/2017 09:16

Have been lurking on the thread - cannot believe what you have been put through. Best of luck for you and your DS today.

MadisonAvenue · 22/06/2017 09:37

Wishing you the very best luck today

notangelinajolie · 22/06/2017 09:42

Good luck today Flowers I am actually feeling quite tearful writing this. You and your son have been treated appallingly by the LA. Keep strong. If anyone can win this - it is you.

Zoflorabore · 22/06/2017 09:51

Good luck today! Thinking of you Flowers

rightwhine · 22/06/2017 10:07

What time is it op?

GoneDownhill · 22/06/2017 10:07

Wow, what a crazy situation. Wishing you the best of luck 💐💐💐💐

Rudi44 · 22/06/2017 10:23

best of luck!

NigelMolesworth · 22/06/2017 10:32

Another one wishing you the best of luck today

LilaBard · 22/06/2017 10:42

Just caught up on the thread. Horrified that the school have put you in this position. Thinking of you and your boy today, all the best xx

Mandolinoparadiso · 22/06/2017 10:44

Very good luck! I have an 11-year-old starting at secondary in September, and I can't imagine how awful it would be to have his place taken away at this stage. Thinking of you and expecting the best of results.

rightwhine · 22/06/2017 11:05

It may be too late but you must prove that the detriment to your child not having a place will be greater than the detriment to the school of going over PAN if they do take him - which the onus is on you to prove. This is crucial to winning the case. You have lots of arguments prepared but you must ram home
these reasons would be mean greater detriment to any child put in my sons position but it is of greater detriment to my son because he is already under CAMHS for anxiety This makes the situation much much worse. You have the proof and ram this argument home.

I won an appeal taking this stance.

Nix32 · 22/06/2017 12:06

Crossing everything for you x

prh47bridge · 22/06/2017 12:12

It may be too late but you must prove that the detriment to your child not having a place will be greater than the detriment to the school of going over PAN if they do take him - which the onus is on you to prove. This is crucial to winning the case

No, it is not crucial in this case. That is the most common way of winning an appeal but showing that a mistake has been made which has wrongly deprived your child of a place is MUCH stronger. You then don't need to argue about detriment at all unless the mistake has affected a lot of people and the school wouldn't be able to cope with all of them.