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Secondary education

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Original poster

Appeal help, terminal cancer

17 replies

Gruffin · 02/03/2019 07:58

My daughter did not get in to the secondary school that both her older siblings attend. They have changed the catchment area from this year, previously this school was our school but now a new secondary have been built that is closer.
DD’s primary is a feeder school to the chosen secondary and we had to put her there when we moved here five years ago and the local primary didn’t have room for her.

The point we raised in the application is that her dad has been diagnosed with a terminal rare cancer last year and we want her to go to school with her siblings and school friends because it would be cruel to take her friends and siblings away when our family is in crisis and she needs familiarity and support. She doesn’t know any of the kids from the village school.
The new school will only have year 7 to start with.

When my husband dies I will be completely alone to handle this situation. I haven’t got any family or friends.

OP posts:
ASauvignonADay · 02/03/2019 08:06

Go to appeal

BarbarianMum · 02/03/2019 09:02

Im sorry to hear about your dh. Yes appeal, I think you have a good case. However, if you're not successful do talk to the new school. As they will be very small when (if) your dd starts, the staff will get to know the children v well and they should have the scope to offer your dd a lot of support.

Original poster
Gruffin · 02/03/2019 09:04

We will. I just wondered if we stand any chance based on experiences. I got a feeling they’ve not even read our application or looked at the files we added.

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 02/03/2019 09:08

I think you have a good chance. If the information you provided didnt /couldnt change the category under which your dd was admitted (am guessing she lost out due to distance) then they cant use it to initially award a place. That doesnt mean it won' t have weight in the appeal.

Lougle · 02/03/2019 09:17

I'm sorry that you're facing such a difficult situation.

It may be that there is no room for your situation in the admissions criteria. Was there an exceptional medical/social criteria for the school? If there was, it may be that it wasn't considered exceptional enough that a family member was unwell rather than your DD herself.

However, that doesn't affect your right to appeal, or your chances at appeal. So lodge an appeal and use all of those points. What years are your other children in? Bear in mind that if they are in very senior years (e.g. yr 10/11) the panel may question how much support they will be, because they will be leaving soon, but as long as you are prepared to address that, it should be ok.

Also bear in mind that if lots of people are appealing, they will have to decide between each case as to who has the most compelling case for admission, so also look at what the school has that benefits your DD aside from siblings and friends (which, your DH's situation aside, would be a fairly weak case, because most children would want to be with their siblings and friends and many appeals will centre on this).

ASauvignonADay · 02/03/2019 09:21

Based on the appeals that have got through to our school, I think you stand a good chance. I am not an expert though!

prh47bridge · 02/03/2019 10:08

Yes, you can appeal.

In general, medical categories (if they exist) only relate to the child's medical condition so her father's condition would not count. However, an appeal panel may well be more sympathetic. Follow Lougle's advice.

myrtleWilson · 02/03/2019 10:12

My sister had terminal cancer when her daughter was starting primary school. Thankfully the admissions criteria accepted this as part of their exceptional circumstances criteria and she got a place at her local school. It took away an extra layer of stress so I do hope you're successful at appeal. Flowers for you and your family

HerdingPigs · 02/03/2019 11:29

You should appeal. At least you get a chance to state your DD's case for them to consider. Good luck OP.

Fishwifecalling · 02/03/2019 11:31

Good luck with the appeal.

Fishwifecalling · 02/03/2019 11:33

In my experience they don't even look at mitigating circumstances in the first instance. So they haven't rejected your situation. It probably hasn't even been factored into the sorting process. The appeal will be the time to have those heard.

Original poster
Gruffin · 02/03/2019 12:35

Thank you for your responses Smile
myrtle So sorry about your sister, it’s just heartbreaking Flowers.

Fish - I had a feeling I heard this before. All the local children who are in DD school just got a blank no so that makes sense.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gruffin · 02/03/2019 12:36

Appeal is done and been sent so I just have to wait to be called to the hearing. Smile

OP posts:
Cocosunshine · 02/03/2019 13:12

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. It's a pretty inhumane system to force this stress on you on top of everything else - I really am sorry.

It was a while back, but I know someone who got into their preferred school on appeal because her father was very unwell and her mother was caring for him while looking after the children single-handed.

I can't imagine any human being turning down your appeal. So far, a machine has done that, not a person. Wishing you all the very best.

Witchend · 02/03/2019 13:17

It depends on your area/appeal panel about whether they'll take parental illness into consideration.
A friend was given 6-12 months to live and was told that it would not be taken into consideration because they don't look at parental illness. She tried several times talking to different people and they all said the same. I was pretty shocked by that as it seemed such a small thing that could be done to help.

In the end they did get their chosen school, but through normal waiting lists not appeal.

141mum · 02/03/2019 18:56

Good luck xxxxx

SE13Mummy · 04/03/2019 00:09

Sorry to hear about your DH's diagnosis and your DD's school allocation. It's a bit of a different scenario but I helped a good friend of mine with their primary application for DC1 in which her DH's terminal diagnosis was the main factor. His oncologist, amongst other professionals, provided a statement that talked about the likely progression of his illness and how that would impact upon his vision and mobility. As he was familiar with their preferred school site pre diagnosis (because of various things such as collecting our children from there, attending events etc), the oncologist included this information as being a reason i.e. his existing knowledge of the preferred school would facilitate him being involved in his DC's education once he lost his sight in a way a different school couldn't. The health visitor also wrote a letter explaining the family's support networks were centred around the preferred school and that as friend's DH was expected to die whilst the DC were at primary school, it would be beneficial for them to attend the school at which the family was already known and emergency childcare was easily available. There were letters from other professionals too, each stating that only the preferred school would meet the social/emotional needs of the DC caused by their DF's terminal diagnosis.

My friend's DC was given the place on the medical grounds. I hope the panel will be similarly sympathetic to your family's needs.

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