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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary appeal

30 replies

bushra83 · 03/03/2018 08:09

Hi I am looking for some advice please in regards to school appeals my daughter got her third preference and I am looking to plead for the first preference I am looking for any advice u csn give in regards to how to win a appeal I have a young child who suffers from hyperinslinism and is tube fed and needs constant monitoring and one of the things I was going to use in my appeal was that because I have no family where I live I have no body to reply on and I will be in great difficult trying to get my daughter to school along with my younger children to primary school I know they will prob tell me that my daughter can get the bus into school i can get medical evidence and supporting letters from my baby consultants nurses etc to confirm his medical conditions I am looking for any advice anyone can give me pls hope this msg makes sense

OP posts:
superram · 03/03/2018 08:19

You need to appeal on why School 1 can be the only school that meets your eldest daughters needs. At secondary age she will be expected to travel alone, so the health issues of sibling are irrelevant.

PanelChair · 03/03/2018 08:38

Does your local authority have a medical/social category for admissions? Where they do - and some don't - different local authorities seem to vary in how much weight they're willing to give to the medical/social needs of parents and siblings, rather than the child who's applying for the place.

If you want to appeal, you will need to demonstrate why this school is the best one for your child. The panel may well think that your older child can walk or get the bus to school - most do at that age and it's unusual for parents to take Y7 children to school unless it's in a rural area with no transport, etc. Look for other things - curriculum, pastoral care, whatever - that make this the best school for your child.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2018 08:39

As superram says, the appeal panel will be sympathetic about your young child but it is very unlikely this argument will win your appeal unless there is evidence that your daughter is unable to get herself to and from school. They are indeed likely to take the view that your daughter can get the bus.

You need to concentrate on why this is the right school for your daughter. To disagree with superram slightly, it doesn't have to be the only school that meets her needs. You have to show that it meets her needs better than the school you have been offered. So you need to build your case around things this school offers that are missing from the allocated school and which you can show would be particularly beneficial for your daughter. For example, if your daughter is musically gifted and this school has lots of extra-curricular musical activities but the offered school doesn't, that is worth raising in your appeal.

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2018 08:40

Does the child going to secondary school have medical needs too, or just the younger one?

jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 03/03/2018 09:22

Is your #2 choice easier to get to? You can appeal for more than one school. Make sure that you are in waiting lists too.

If you are concerned about your child travelling, there is plenty of time before September to practice.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 10:12

The child going to school doesn't have medical needs I am a single mother with four children my child who has medical issues requires constant monitoring and looking after he could end up in hospital at any time and this is not of the reasons I require a closer school to home so that my daughter who is my eldest can get herself home safey and be there for her other siblings too and be close to hospital if she needs to get there I have spent a number of months in hospital with my baby and I have no family support as all family live about 300 miles away I understand that the panel won't be interested in the fact that she needs to be closer to home for this reason but I have spoken to my baby consultants nurses etc and they also believe my daughter should be at a school that is reasonably close to home also I have some friends who's children attend the school I want so I know if I was to ever be put in a situation where I am in hospital my other children would be looked after and could be brought home safely I'm looking for any advice I can use to help with my appeal I thank you guys for all ur advice

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 03/03/2018 10:20

Hi Bushra things do sound tricky at home, I hope your younger child is doing ok. What is the distance from the allocated school to home as opposed to preferred school to home and are there any others that are closer to home that may have spaces?
As others have said, logistics don’t usually factor into appeals but if the distance is extreme you may find a sympathetic panel but I would recommend building a case on why preferred school meets your daughter’s educational needs better than allocated school. Good luck

tiggytape · 03/03/2018 10:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 10:38

The school allocated is approx 22miled from home the school I want is under 3 miles away
Yes my daughter would need to care for siblings who do u think I should get a letter from to support this ? Thank you again for all ur advice
Things are very tricky at home and this is why I need my eldest to get a school closer to home the other two schools that r closer to home are very under performing schools and I do not know of anyone who attends those schools where I would have someone to reply on should my baby end up in hospital

OP posts:
tiggytape · 03/03/2018 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 10:51

Thank you so much for ur advice I will defo take everything on board had anyone had a successful appeal? I have so much stress in my life I really could have done without this added stress

OP posts:
tiggytape · 03/03/2018 10:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2018 11:03

Yes, I have appealed successfully and helped many other parents to appeal.

If the school is really 22 miles away that could be a big point in your favour. The LA will have to provide free transport. However, if the journey takes more than one and a quarter hours each way it is unreasonable according to government guidance so that would give you a strong argument for needing a school nearer home. And if your daughter is needed at home to help provide care that is also a point in your favour.

I would still look at what this school offers and build a case that your daughter will be disadvantaged if she does not attend this school. It all helps.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2018 11:03

Meant to say helped many other parents to win appeals!

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 11:34

prh47bridge Pls could u help me

OP posts:
LIZS · 03/03/2018 11:39

Out of interest why did you list a school 22 miles away, had you hoped to move?

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 11:53

I put down all five different schools because I was worried that she wasn't gng to get into a school and I would be left with my catchment area school which is a very under performing school

OP posts:
LIZS · 03/03/2018 12:29

Are schools 4 or 5 any easier logistically? Might be worth checking their waiting list situation as well as 1 and 2. LA will have allocated your highest preference for which your dd qualified within the places available.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 14:17

Hi would u be able to help me st all pls

OP posts:
PanelChair · 03/03/2018 14:52

We have already given you lots of help by suggesting how best to approach your appeal. To sum up, your arguments will be

  • your daughter is a young carer so needs a school close to home
  • travelling 22 miles to school is unreasonable for any child and especially for her
  • other reasons why the appeal school is the most suitable for her - what’s on the curriculum, pastoral care support, whatever

Gather as much evidence as you can to support these arguments.

If you have other specific questions, we’ll do our best to answer them.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 15:13

Thank you for all ur help it's much appreciated

OP posts:
RedSkyAtNight · 03/03/2018 15:28

(question to admissions experts out of interest) Can OP use the fact that the school is too far away for her DC to reasonably get to when she actually chose it asher 3rd preference (and had closer schools she could have chosen)?

Hersetta427 · 03/03/2018 15:33

Sorry to play devils advocate but there was a school much much nearer to your house but you didn't even list it because it is underperforming, and you say it is important for your daughter to be home quickly but you didn't list your catchment school and listed one 22 miles away instead ??

That makes no sense.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2018 16:25

Can OP use the fact that the school is too far away...

She can. The fact she named it as a preference when other schools were closer undermines her case a little but it isn't necessarily fatal.

bushra83 - I am happy to help if I can. I agree with PanelChair regarding the arguments you should use.

Original poster
bushra83 · 03/03/2018 18:13

Thank you everyone
Yes u r right I didn't put my catchment area school down But why would I when it is extremely under performing I still want my daughter to have the best but my circumstances are as such that I do need her to be closer to home I can't put her in a school that is so bad

OP posts: