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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary school appeals 2020

65 replies

Apollorealm · 28/04/2020 18:18

Hi hope you are all safe and well.
Can anyone give me some advice please on how and when surrey school appeals will take place this year due to coronavirus and social distancing!
I am concerned that without hearings taking place it won’t be fair on the parents as they may struggle to get their points across.

Any advice would be helpful, thanks

OP posts:
Wooddie · 28/04/2020 20:47

The DfE published the regulations on Friday giving those organising the appeals the guidance. Everyone has been waiting for it. It allows for appeals to be held remotely/on paper. They will be held inn the summer term but could be later than normal. Best to ask the
people organising your appeal what is happening.

Original poster
Apollorealm · 28/04/2020 21:25

Ok thank you for help Wooddie
Surrey school appeals seem to have very limited information!
I have emailed them but no reply 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
admission · 28/04/2020 21:58

The way that the changed regs have been set up, the admission appeal panel will have to make a decision on what method can be employed. The fall back position is that this will be virtual. Only if this is not possible will it then move to potentially being by phone and then if necessary by submission of papers. The last one is only going to be where there are real reasons why a virtual hearing can not be held, so for example there simply is no internet connection available.

Having said that even doing appeals virtually is going to be a real issue if there is more than 4 or 5 appeals for the school. The LA and the appeal panel are going to have to work out how it will work, so that everybody gets part one of the appeal, either singularly or in groups and then part 2 with each set of parents on their own. It is going to take a lot longer than usual.

Original poster
Apollorealm · 28/04/2020 23:01

Thanks very much for your advice,
I did think it may take longer than usual! Just thought I might of heard something by now.
I am also concerned about the fairness side of things!

OP posts:
St7780023 · 29/04/2020 00:04

I have an appeal 2 weeks time via video link I'm so anxious it's taking over my life.

Original poster
Apollorealm · 29/04/2020 09:00

Wishing you good luck for your appeal in two weeks time,
let me know how it goes!
I am still waiting to hear about
our appeal We have had no correspondence whatsoever only an automatic email to say our appeal has been logged and that was in March.

OP posts:
WaitingGame20 · 29/04/2020 20:25

Evening,

I was just wondering if you have heard from Surrey County Council yet? Do you mind me asking what school you have appealed for? Such a stressful time 😔

Original poster
Apollorealm · 29/04/2020 21:41

We are still waiting to hear from Surrey! Yes it is very stressful 😔
We are number 15 on the waiting list! What’s our chance on getting in on the waiting list?

OP posts:
St7780023 · 29/04/2020 22:26

I was wondering the same with the waiting list chances? What grounds are yoh all appealing on?

WaitingGame20 · 30/04/2020 06:56

Waiting list chances depend on which school really. I have some previous experience and information from previous years. Which schools are you on waiting lists for?

Original poster
Apollorealm · 03/05/2020 10:43

Can I ask if anyone has heard anything about the appeal process yet and how they will be dealt with?
Are your appeals being dealt by written evidence only or video/phone call? I am still waiting to hear!

OP posts:
mummyinatizz · 04/05/2020 14:54

Hi - I sit on admission appeal panels in Wandsworth and have had a good deal of information from the team that runs the appeals, its the democratic services department rather than the education department. We are starting appeals via Teams later in May, where appellants have access to it, otherwise paper submissions will be used. The team responsible seem to have spent a lot of time and effort into trying to make it work and be fair for all. They are following government guidance and also guidance from an association of clerks for admissions (or something like that). Including some of the deadlines being extended. I would imagine Surrey will be doing the same and you will hear very soon on how they will make it work. best of luck!

Original poster
Apollorealm · 04/05/2020 16:08

Thanks very much for your advice,
I guess I will just have to be patient and wait to hear from Surrey!

OP posts:
Original poster
Apollorealm · 10/05/2020 18:06

Can anyone tell me where I get the information from on how many appeals were upheld last year for a particular school and how many appeals are there this year!
Do I have to ask the school directly for this information?

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 10/05/2020 18:11

Surrey would know that as well - the school will know how many were won last year, but may not know as yet how many there are this year -though it's not relevant to the case you would need to make; previous appeals don't set precedents.

Original poster
Apollorealm · 10/05/2020 20:29

Ok thank you
Unfortunately Surrey doesn’t reply my emails 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MarchingFrogs · 10/05/2020 22:32

@Apollorealm, have you had some communication about how your appeal is to be heard now? The details of how the Surrey County Council intends to run appeals is on the website now (I'm not in Surrey, just curious as to how other areas are organising theirsSmile).

Original poster
Apollorealm · 10/05/2020 23:14

Hi, yes I’ve seen the details on Surrey’s website but still no communication whatsoever it’s very frustrating.
I have emailed them a couple of times but no reply!
Other areas seem to be going ahead with their appeals 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Snuggles23 · 18/05/2020 09:53

We have just had our appeal last wed/thurs but they wouldn't offer video or telephone call!! We literally received the objections from the school regarding our case on Monday we sent back our arguments for each point on the Tuesday but don't know if these were given to the appeal panel in time as had no confirmation. Feel very upset and cheated out of our appeal and feel that schools will probably try to use the covid 19 argument for bot taking any more pupils. Nervously waiting the post!

St7780023 · 18/05/2020 10:39

We had ours last week too we had it via video link I was asked no questions and just stated what they already had written from me. I'm waiting for the decision and it's the worst thing ever. I'm also worrying about covid 19 surely that has just as much prejudice on one kid as it does the whole school ? X

Snuggles23 · 18/05/2020 11:00

It's awful isn't it just feel that our chance to a fair appeal like lots of others has been taken away from us. Have an awful knot in my stomach just waiting for the post.

Snuggles23 · 18/05/2020 11:01

No chance on the waiting list either we are number 20!!

Original poster
Apollorealm · 18/05/2020 11:19

This has been my worry all along! Appeals not being fair and schools using Covid as an excuse to not allow any appeals!
I have also read that so many parents are holding on to both state and grammar school places due to financial uncertainty.
So I am hoping there will be movement on the waiting lists throughout the summer.

OP posts:
St7780023 · 18/05/2020 11:31

My post isnt regular at the moment either so that makes it worse. Not sure exactly what your situations are but if I've lost then I'm expected to send him to a school 30 minutes away where he will know no one and coming out of pandemic to that with his social issue will just make the problem bigger arghh! X

Snuggles23 · 18/05/2020 11:44

There is a school he could go to if not but it wasn't even one we had considered and didn't go and look round. It's ok but not one we would have chosen but still much better than the one we have been offered as he will not be going to that school! Hoping that worse case we don't win our appeal he can go to this other school and we can try and move him to preferred school as an in year admission if places become available.