school appeals

[drjd]

Hello all. I am sure this is a hot topic....Just wondering - if the school has in fact acted legally by decling your application for a school place..in my case, the school is full....then what is the point of appeal as been doing lot of research and people say only if the school has not followed the rules, then you can win the appeal.

Many thanks, Joanna.

Depends on the year group of the child, but it is always worth appealing. If not an infant class size appeal (reception, 1,2 if in classes of 30 per teacher), then It's not about breaking the rules, it's about whether you can make a case that the school can cope with an extra child - that the detriment to your child of not attending is greater than the detriment to the school of admitting.

What year are we talking about?

Difficult to win an appeal for KS1, if the class is already 30 with one teacher. If not, then it comes down to a balancing process where the panel weigh up the disadvantage to the school of having an extra pupil against the disadvantage to the parent of not allowing the place.

Given we are on the secondary board, if this is an appeal for secondary, you just have to show the school is most suited to your DC and that disadvantage to them is more than disadvantage to school. Squeezing in an extra child in a 200 intake is perhaps easier than in a 30 intake at a primary.
Need to look at your child's interests and abilities and why this school meets them so much better than any other.

Thank you to all. Yes TeenTimesTwo is correct. I am concerned about my sons welfare at his current secondary school. He was bullied last year, resulted in broken wrist then on top of few other injuries. School refused to meet with me and said it was all just an accident even though same child who pushed him very hard had previously slammed door on his head!...very last week of summer term he got picked on for three hours on a coach for trip (it was awful older girls were throwing sanitary towels at him, tying his shoelaces and making fun of him) even though a teacher was on board. His enthusiasm for education and learning has just absolutely flatlined and every day when I pick him up from school he walks out so down and looking like he's got the world on his shoulders. I keep asking him if he's bullied but he says he's not. He was the top achiever in primary and won award and had lot of ambition, but then at his school his grades have declined and dropped set in English. They don't seem to inspire anything in him as I always ask him how school was and he says "the same" or "boring". He has a skill for music and languages but again not motivated. He even said himself to me "The teachers don't have a clue to stop bullying". That's the very short version of why I am trying to transfer him to a different school.

That sound absolutely horrendous and there is no way he should be in that situation. Poor lad.

So, have you applied to another school and they have told you that they are full?

I think OP must have applied for a different school,and been rejected on the basis, as she says, that it's full.

That is normal, because schools can't just admit another pupil if they have no vacancy. So you have to appeal.

Your reasons for wanting to leave the current school are not going to win you your appeal. Because you are appealing for the school you want (not against the one you want to leave).

So if, for example, the potential new school has a particular pastoral system then you can frame the argument in terms that new schools would benefit your DS enormously because of the legacy of current issues.

What other features about the new school make it a particular good fit for your DS? Subjects on offer? Co-curricular opportunities?

Remember the place has been rejected because it has to be. The school might not actually mind another pupil, so their appeal case not to admit might not be that strong. The panel has to decide which is stronger, which is why you need lots of positive arguments about why your DS needs this school in particular.

Agree with Meditrina, although if you have evidence of his current school failing to deal with bullying I would include that in your case. Whilst you are appealing for the new school, most appeal panels are sympathetic to cases where parents want to move their child to get away from bullying. However, many parents looking for transfers allege bullying at the current school even if there isn't any, so it is important to have evidence, e.g. letters/emails to school showing that you've complained about bullying and they haven't taken any effective action.

Just to clarify, when I said 'legacy of current issues' I did mean describe them - I was just suggesting framing the context as why the desired school is better, rather than it (inadvertently) coming over as a litany of complaints about another (even though they are, but you want them all to support your case).

Thank you to Savoy,Meditrina, Ph47.

Many thanks for all the pointers for me to consider. I do have copies of emails that I have sent school. They had said a lot of things they would do and then didn't.

I am going to my GP next week with my son to talk about his welfare and see if she will support my concerns with a letter. She had said at previous appointment that she didn't believe for one second his broken wrist was an accident.

I will be researching the school to show what they can do for my son and try to get help from ACE to write my appeal statement. Will also read the OFSTED reports for both schools to help argue my points. I have ordered the book from ACE.

I have applied for my daughter to start at the same school next September as we are in the catchment area. They have said it will help my son get in if my daughter is accepted. I know that appeals are not interested in parents disability but I will be explaining that it is very difficult for me as a deaf parent to know what is going on or talk to teachers from two different schools as I use BSL to communicate and need interpreters to be booked. It has been awful for me to try to find out from the school what they are doing to motivate and protect my son. Even when I go in, I was told to just take him home when he's been injured by other kids.

I live in Leicestershire if anyone knows someone that could help locally. There apparently is a support service by ACE in Leicester city but as I live in the county I am not allowed to get any support.

Any other pointers will be great thanks so much for taking the time to comment xx

he has a skill for music and languages

Can you evidence that in any way? e.g. Grade 6 piano, or whatever.
Does the school you want have particularly good music or language provision
e.g.
Orchestra / ensemble groups etc
Offering more/earlier MFLs than current school
Offering more/earlier MFL trips

Pastoral - does your preferred school have any special initiatives that you can highlight that would be good. e.g. DDs school have anti-bullying ambassadors and did a super anti-bullying assembly that I happened to attend. Is their pastoral office better staffed or more accessible?

Brilliant thanks. Teen times two. Will be researching all those things.

His current school had awful oftsed report so it won't be difficult to highlight all the things that are better in the school I want him to go to.

How do I find out all the inside info about the school I want him to go to? Like what things they do inside the school on anti bullying ? Or music clubs? Am I allowed to email the school to ask for all the extra info that's not on the website?

Many thanks TTT xx

You are allowed to ask to visit them or email them or do anything you like. The important thing here is evidence: evidence of what they do, what your son can do, what his situation has been in his old school. Paper trail, paper trail, paper trail.

That's smashing thanks! Will definitely be looking for all the letters and emails I did.

I'm going to open evening next week so I will find out about useful contacts.

Many thanks coty xx