School Appeal Letter

[Smelliottsmum]

Hi I’m just drafting my son’s school appeal letter. Don’t think I’ve ever been so stressed 🙈
Am I right to put absolutely everything in this appeal letter (as it’s currently 3 pages long and I’m nowhere near finished)? Or do I just keep it brief and wait for the hearing to elaborate? Thanks in advance for any help. Feel like I’m losing the plot 🙈

What grounds are you appealing?

Make your key points in the letter, and make sure you submit any supporting evidence well in advance (2 weeks before appeal is good). You don't have to write down every little detail though.

3 Pages is plenty! Is this a particularly complex appeal?

My parents live 200metres from the school we’d like and they are our before and after school childcare. My other son will still be at primary school just up the road from that high school. Also all of his friends (pretty much the whole class) are all going too.

Not particularly just a lot of things I feel are important. Guess when I actually type it up it won’t be as long 🙈

Simplify your letter (unless it has to be complex), and take any hint of emotion out of it (frankly, you'll probably be pretty emotional at appeal, so you don't need it in your letter).

When I was appealing I simply used bullet points. But I was told by my child's primary school that they'd never seen such a brief appeal letter. My child's HT had written in support of the appeal, and their letter was twice as long as mine.

Nothing that you've said so far will win an appeal I'm afraid.

My parents live 200metres from the school we’d like and they are our before and after school childcare. My other son will still be at primary school just up the road from that high school. Also all of his friends (pretty much the whole class) are all going too.

It's taken 3 pages to say this!!

I think you need to start again. Keep it simple. Fond more valid reasons for appeal.

I am so sorry but as an appeals panel member none of these points are grounds for appealing. I do completely understand the predicament you are in though and hope you can work something out.

Can I ask what are grounds for appeal?
It seems our only hope is to join the many people who lie about their addresses 😩
It’s such an unjust system ☹️
Ps it’s not 3 pages typed.. handwritten and I have large writing 🤣

Thing about appeals is, you can mention things which are irrelevant at the initial application stage.

I'd go to the school prospectus and pick out anything that seems applicable to your ds, e.g.

1. School has an excellent record of pastoral care, inc. social support groups. X is shy and will benefit immensely from this [to support this mention any similar activities he's benefited from at primary school]. This might also be a place to focus on the need to go to a school where he already knows a number of children.

1. School is only school in area that teaches German, Latin, Chinese... whatever. X is particulary drawn to this language because... [find a very good reason specific to your ds]

1. School allows children to take further Maths. X is gifted mathematically [again produce evidence]...

What I wouldn't mention is childcare issues (you could v. briefly mention them). They're unlikely to make any difference, and could weaken the rest of your case if the panel decides that this is real reason for your appeal.

Thank you very much matildatoldsuchdreadfullies that is really helpful. I have stressed heavily about the sporting and PE side as this is the area my son excells in and they offer extracurricular activities in this area.

Where is he on the waiting list?

Hi GreenTulips he is 7th currently

Unless he has SEN then childcare for a secindary aged child is irrelevant I’m afraid. He will be expected to make his way to & from the allocated school to home.

You have to prove there is more detriment to your child in not being given a place than there is to the school by going over their PAN.

So no available public transport to allocated school, this school offering specialist support in an area your child needs or offering subjects he particularly wants to follow are all reasons. The friendship thing is only an issue if he has social difficulties as it’s well known that once they go to secondary if they aren’t split up from their primary friends anyway they often drift apart.

Thanks for your help AlexanderHamilton
The public transport to the school he’s been allocated is limited to once daily each way. Therefore he wouldn’t be able to join in any sports clubs which will be a big disappointment for him. I’ve mentioned this.

You have to appeal for the school you want not against the allocation. Surely if he goes to an after school activity it will finish later so you may be able to collect then , do gps drive?

The after school activities finish at 4.30 but I don’t finish work till 5.30 and work miles away as does my husband.
We have no other family near that school as it’s in another town 25 mins drive from us.

Hi Tiggytape thanks for your reply it’s very helpful. I have nothing against the school he’s been given apart. I know we’ve not much chance of getting in on appeal but my son is desperate to go there so I’m just trying my best ☹️
The school he has been allocated is a 25 minute bus journey from home (which is fine as there’ll be other kids on it) but there’s only one bus to and from each day. He’s worried he’ll miss out on getting on the sporting teams as he won’t be able to attend practice (held after school) due to there being only one bus (straight after school)
He can be very anxious too, won’t even go upstairs in our house without one of us or his younger brother. I can’t imagine being able to leave him. He’s so immature and dependent. I’ve tried leaving him in the house on his own for a few minutes to see how he gets on and he has a meltdown. Obviously with the other school he would be going straight to his grandparents AND he’ll get to take part in the sports clubs he’s so passionate about.
In hindsight we should’ve done what most other people seem to do round here and rent a room/house but I’m too honest 🙈

You didn't need to rent - you needed to move to your mums -

Actually - do you know any who did this? They can be bumped out of the school because they have effectively taken your sons place - and therefore his place in his local school and community -

You need to speak up of this is the case because it's unfair in genuine kids and it's fraud -

Hi GreenTulips, yes I have my suspicions and part of my appeal is querying why some children living further away have got in...I’m going down the route of querying has the admissions criteria been applied correctly.
Unfortunately my mum and dad live in an over 50’s complex where children aren’t allowed to live so don’t think I’d have got away with it 🤣