Leosmummy2010
My day job is as a Clerk to the Admission Appeals Panel - I'd like to help if I can:
Paperwork - stay organised and make sure your own papers are relevant to the grounds of your appeal. Don't worry about submitting examples of work or school reports, these don't help and you will waste valuable time at the hearing. Do ensure that you have all your evidence, e.g., letter from GP, hospital etc. The schools papers should be issued a minimum of 10 days before the hearing. A well organised school should be able to provide you with the information rather than fob you off. I would notify the Clerk (independent of the school) direct, and that you put your request on record with them, so that they are aware of the difficulties. This way you may have grounds for maladministration, if there is evidence of non-compliance and a clear audit trail of your actions.
Admissions Criteria - make sure you understand the schools admissions criteria. Most parents think they comply under med/soc reasons - find out what the threshold is - they should be able to tell you this if it is part of their admissions criteria. If they are not in the admissions criteria then, this may sound harsh, but med/social grounds only really succeed if you manage to gain the sympathy and support of the panel - so if the strength of your arguments outweigh any prejudice to the provision of efficient education and use of resources.
At the hearing - focus on why you want this particular school. Make sure you do your research and are able to fully explain why this school would suit your child. It won't help you to use arguments such as you like the school's ethos and values; or, its convenient, or his / her friends are going. You need to be very focused as to why this particular school can meet your child's needs better than any other school.
Some dos and donts:
Do talk about your own case and your child, not anyone else (e.g. ignore the fact that you know someone who lied to get in)
Do take your time, and stay calm. Its easy to get emotional, try to think of this as objectively as you can.
Do think of questions to ask the school, once you have read their case papers. You can ask as many questions as you want at the hearing, after the school representative has presented the case.
Don't not turn up or arrive late (believe me, this happens a lot)!
Dont try to "attack" the school verbally - if they are above the published admissions number, then they are able to refuse and its not personal
Finally, don't forget that parents have a right to express a preference, not a right to a specific school. Panels can be unpredictable - if they genuinely feel sympathetic to your case, they will do what they can to support you. They are supposed to be trained, and independent of the school so you should get a fair hearing.
Sorry, appreciate the above is long but hope it helps and good luck.