Complaint about appeal faith school

[friendlyflicka]

I have been reading the other thread about complaining to the LGO over a fault in the procedure of an appeal.

If I have a complaint about an appeal process from a Catholic secondary school, to whom do I address it?

I have rung up the diocese who say that I could write to the governors and ask for a second appeal, listing my reasons. But, this is not impartial in the slightest. Would I still go through LGO?

Yes, unless it's an academy or free school.. From the LGO publication, School admission appeals: are parents being heard?:

'If a parent believes an appeal hearing has not been conducted fairly, they can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman. We have the power to investigate complaints about local authority community schools, voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools and foundation schools. Academies and free schools operate independently of local authorities and we do not have powers to
investigate complaints about these.'

It is an academy.

Thanks. I think it is the Education Funding Agency.

I didn't know that there were any schools that weren't academies these days

As an academy you would have to go to the ESFA to complain. The irony is that as a catholic academy, it is quite possible that the Trust Board who run the school is effectively the Diocese, who told you to go to the school.

Admission, you helped me before when my older sister was denied a place at the same school. I think the lack of transparency is appalling. I am not telling my younger daughter I am complaining, but I really felt outraged.

I have lodged a complaint with EFSA on their online form and written to the clerk of the diocese and the governors.

Can't do anything else. I did a school appeal a few years' ago and was unsuccessful and I was philosophical then and could understand. This one, I had such a strong case I do feel something wasn't right. I don't have a lot of faith in any process sorting it out though.

@panelchair, this is my separate thread.

Just heard that they do think it is worth investigating. Not much hope really but it is something.

I tried arguing with her to uphold complaint and investigate but she wouldn't. Do accept I don't really have any grounds to argue with the process just the conclusion.

Trying to be as positive as I can and hope it works out.

What was the fault in the procedure you complained about?

It was only grasping at straws. Just that in the letter of rejection it said 'the panel noted that any school would suit xxxx'. And it was pretty clear from my evidence that this was not the case. But they had listed my evidence earlier in the letter.

I think this was a terrible decision. I now have 2 vulnerable, highly anxious children with CAMHS intervention and a history of domestic violence at 2 opposite schools. The younger one is now leaving all her peers. I have bipolar and am very much on my own. I think it was a rubbish decision but I can't do much about it other than be positive and try my best to make it all work.

I'm not particularly surprised the ESFA don't want to step in. From their perspective, they aren't there to act as a further appeal. They are there to deal with problems where the Appeals Code has been breached. If the panel had not considered your evidence at all the ESFA may have acted. However, it sounds like they considered your evidence in arriving at their decision, even if the conclusion they drew wasn't supported by your evidence. The only way forward would be judicial review and it would only be worth going there if the panel's decision was so unreasonable that no rational person could have made that decision on the evidence presented. If you wanted to go down that route you would need to consult a lawyer. But in all honesty I think you probably need to accept that you disagree with the conclusion and move on.

That is exactly what I am doing!

If I can supply evidence that my daughter's case as deteriorated and changed since the last one - which I can - the diocese is willing to allow a second appeal.

Just been huntering and gathering evidence tomorrow for all sources. None manufactured, all very easy to obtain. All very honest truth. Hope it works for the whole family

If anyone has any advice about how to approach a second appeal hearing, would be very grateful. I think I did a good job at the first but...I will obviously get loads and loads of evidence, and will be positive about the school and won't moan about their first decision, and just hope...

In broad terms you approach it the same way as the first. The panel won't know it is your second appeal. If you want proper advice you need to say more about your case.