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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

School admission appeal

19 replies

LouBaker56 · 18/03/2019 20:36

I would appreciate any advice you could offer me -

DD sat the 11+ and scored very high. More than 40 marks over the minimum.
Two proofs of residence were requested - one of which the council say they didn’t receive- and Sod’s law means I didn’t get a proof of postage.
I’m now appealing. Not holding out much hope for the waiting list as there are many children on there who live closer to the school.
It’s been an incredibly stressful and difficult time.
Any words of advice...please...?

OP posts:

TeenTimesTwo · 18/03/2019 20:52

What are the criteria?

Is it - you must score over the minimum & then on distance?
Or - you must score over the minimum & then there is a catchment ..

If people live closer and are on waiting list, how could the extra proof of address have made a difference? Are you claiming they effectively placed you in the wrong category?

Do you have any other valid reasons for appeal. e.g. subjects offered, extra curricular clubs?

Original poster

LouBaker56 · 18/03/2019 20:57

Waiting list criteria - by score then distance from school. Distance from school is by area and don’t live within the inner circle but fall into the ‘outer’ city category.

Extra curricular clubs? Can I use this in my appeal?

OP posts:

admission · 18/03/2019 20:57

From your post you appear to have sent the two proofs of residency as separate items. If this is so, then I am afraid that your only course of action is to go to appeal and argue that having sent one that the school should have recognised that something had gone wrong with the second proof of residency and got in touch with you. Not in all honesty a strong case
If however both were in the same delivery then there is the same argument but I think a much stronger case that if the school recorded they got one then it is the school that have lost the other proof and they should accept that you did do what was required.
There is also a question as to whether if the school are asking for the proof of address whether that has been done correctly. 1.9A of the admission guidance says that admission authority cannot "place any conditions on the consideration of any application other than those in the oversubscription criteria published in the admission arrangements." Wording, when it was asked for and what was asked for may all have a bearing on whether the admission authority (the school) met this legal requirement.

meditrina · 18/03/2019 20:58

"there are many children on there who live closer to the school"

This might be the real reason you missed a place.

Because unless superselective, being over the pass mark doesn't matter. And if there are many DC on the waiting list who live closer than you, it does sound as if you missed out on distance.

Is it clear from your letter what address they used?

TeenTimesTwo · 18/03/2019 21:04

So are you saying that everyone who scores 182 is placed above everyone on 181 even if someone lives nearer the school?

So everyone on the waiting list above you has a higher score than you or the same score but lives closer?

If they didn't consider you due to the address but have it now, you'd be more or less top wouldn't you?

Yes you can use extra curricular clubs for appeal. Show your DC has proven interest in something that offered school doesn't have extras but desired school does.

ChicCroissant · 18/03/2019 21:17

OP, it doesn't sound as if the missing proof of address has stopped you getting a place - it's not a super-selective grammar that takes the top scorers, but a grammar that has x number of places that are available to anyone scoring over a set mark in the test? By inner circle, do you mean there is a preferred catchment?

It is a very stressful time, you do have my sympathy there.

Original poster

LouBaker56 · 18/03/2019 21:25

Yes, so the grammar has 130 places for the highest scoring kids. The highest scoring child who got in achieved a score of 278. The lowest score was 210. DD scores 240.

Had the second proof of residence been accounted for, DD would have got the place instead her application was deemed ‘incomplete’.

My frustration is with the process. There is no process to alert parents that documentation is missing. And the online application system does not flag this to parents neither.

OP posts:

ChicCroissant · 18/03/2019 21:32

But if it just depends on the proof of address, then as soon as you provide that surely she'll be at the top of the waiting list if it goes purely on the score, although it's difficult to see why they would need the address at all in that case?

I live in a super-selective area and it just takes the highest scoring candidates, regardless of distance.

prh47bridge · 19/03/2019 00:01

You may be able to argue that the refusal to admit was unreasonable. Since your daughter qualified on score, whether or not you had given the right address was not an issue. The Admissions Code paragraph 2.5 says that, "Admission authorities may need to ask for proof of address where it is unclear whether a child meets the published oversubscription criteria". In your daughter's case it was clear that she met the published oversubscription criteria so proof of address was not necessary.

I can't guarantee that this will succeed but it is certainly worth appealing on this basis.

PickleFish · 19/03/2019 07:24

You say first that one was sent by email and the other by post, and then later that both were sent by post.

Which one didn't arrive?

Could you use the email copy in the sent folder as proof? It should have dates on it etc.

Original poster

LouBaker56 · 19/03/2019 08:14

I think I've been unclear - apologies. Two proofs of address were requested, both separately - both were posted (-neither using recorded delivery). One got there and one didn't.

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 19/03/2019 08:27

As per my post last night, I am of the view that you have a decent case that the refusal to admit was unreasonable. Your daughter was entitled to a place at this school regardless of where she lives. Proof of address was therefore irrelevant.

Under paragraph 2.5 of the Admissions Code, admission authorities can ask for proof of address if it is unclear whether a child meets the oversubscription criteria. In your daughter's case, there was no such lack of clarity. She met the oversubscription criteria even if she lived 500 miles away.

In my view you have a good case for appeal.

Original poster

LouBaker56 · 19/03/2019 08:47

prh47bridge Thank you - I will refer to paragraph 2.5 of the Admissions Code for sure.

OP posts:

Djr1 · 19/03/2019 13:42

Hi my daughter is on a waiting list for secondary school.I am appealing and wondered if I could get some advice. The school she wants is a welsh language secondary in cardiff and they start banding immediately for maths only in September and then bans other subjects around January. The other school that she may be offered a place does not introduce banding until year 8.

As my daughter has always been good at maths and generally good at the other subjects could I use this as an argument to say that the school that will band immediately would be a better fit for her as she is potentially a high flier and the fact that the other school does not introduce until year 8-that this could potentially hold her back.

Thanks

BubblesBuddy · 19/03/2019 14:13

It’s important, when appealing, to say why you want a school. Stating that the allocated school will hold your DD back isn’t the best thing to say. Do you know what progress the children make in maths in y7 in both schools? If you don’t, I would be wary of stating one system is better than another. You could state your preference for the grouping in y7, but I wouldn’t say that the other school will hold her back as this argument may well be untrue and easily dismissed.

prh47bridge · 19/03/2019 14:24

You can try that but I'm not convinced it is compelling on its own. I would suggest adding some other arguments around things this school offers that are missing from the allocated school.

Djr1 · 19/03/2019 15:41

What about if the school she is on a waiting list for has a lot more extra curricular music clubs- choirs, orchestras etc whereas the other school has not. She is into her music- piano and cello and does a lot of this.

ChicCroissant · 19/03/2019 15:52

OP, don't forget that you are appealing for a school, not against one - concentrate on the good bits of the school you want and how it will suit your DD. Don't run down the other one, the panel can only make a judgement on the school you are appealing for.

prh47bridge · 19/03/2019 19:01

That would be a good argument. That is exactly the kind of thing the appeal panel is looking for.

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