Secondary School Appeal - dance GCSE

[KateBlush]

Trying to get prepared for allocation day in March. My daughter will not get into our 1st choice of school. We do not live close enough (2km distance but never get in from our address based on historical info - not even on continuing interest).

The school we are likely to get, and one we have put as a home-banker, does not offer Dance GCSE. No. 1 school does. No. 1 school also has an excellent performing arts set-up/ school theatre/ lots of extra curricular dance clubs which are not on offer at our likely allocated school.

I would like to use this as a basis for appeal. My DD is an incredibly keen dancer, attending 7 different classes a week (some 10 hours of extra curricular dance). In my view she is quite gifted - regularly receives distinctions, awarded the highest mark in her ballet school in recent exams, cast in leading roles in productions etc. I'm sure her dance teachers would vouch for her dedication and talent.

Her other main interest outside school is long distance running (she runs at County level) but our likely allocated school is not great on sport either - tiny grounds, poor representation in competitions. School 1 has a running track, great athletics reputation.

Has anyone any insight into my chances of a successful appeal on this basis? Am I right in thinking that I have to prove that the detriment to my daughter of not being able to study Dance at GCSE and enjoy the performing arts and athletics opportunities at school 1 is greater than the prejudice to the school of admitting an additional student over PAN (which I know they have frequently done over the years)? Any advice welcome. Thank you.

No chance at all. Your daughter can sir dance gcse as a private candidate.

You can try. The worst that can happen is that they say no. If you don't try, she definitely won't get in.

My sister appealed for her ds in a similar way but in year nine. It was a good appeal and what the appeal process is for. There was much evidence of nephews aptitude and she had reference letters to support this etc.

Also, nephew's Alevels and therefore degree will be affected as now he will have to do a foundation course instead of A levels as he won't be able to do a A level without the GCSE.

Her appeal was unsuccessful and we were surprised. Afterwards she was told that it was a difficult one and that one panel member was for, one against and the other wavering.

So yes, definitely appeal. You will be able to get help with it on here. There are some very knowledgeable people.

Ignore superram. This is exactly the kind of case that can win an appeal. You can show that your daughter will be disadvantaged by going to the likely allocated school due to the lack of provision for dance and sports, both of which are particularly relevant to her. And you are absolutely correct about what you have to show. If you need any help preparing your case, you will get plenty of assistance from experts on Mumsnet.

Thanks so much for these replies - feeling more encouraged after superram's rather robust 1st post. Seen lots of great advice on here from prh47bridge over the years, so especially heartening to receive a positive response from you.

Agree with @prh47bridge, as ever. (I also sit on appeals panels). First reply is nonsense, this is precisely the kind of situation that could win an appeal (whether it does will depend on how strong the case the school can make for being full, and the detriment that would be caused by another pupil in Year 7, and possibly the strengths of other Year 7 appeals).

Thank you too @PatriciaHolm - I also recognise you're an expert in these matters. Very reassuring indeed.

As others have said you have a good opportunity based on what you have said about your daughter. However if the preferred school is very popular, you can bet that there will be other parents who will be giving exactly the same reasons as you.
As such you need to emphasise your daughter is performing at a higher level, so they stand out from those who are simply producing the equivalent of a 25 metres breaststroke certificate (sorry to all swimmers). There is a temptation to bombard with certificates and pictures of your daughter performing. Please do not go overboard on this as panel members do tend to see lots of pictures just to show that this is "a real person that we are deciding the fate of." Believe me that is not the way to get the panel on your side. Go for a well written submission with bullet points of your daughter's achievements.

It may also be sensible to try and find a third good reason to have a place at the school, just so again you stand out from the crowd. From the sound of it, this seems an outstanding school and there will be other things that they are doing that you can use to highlight that your daughter should be offered a place.

Hi, my daughter (Y6) has not been accepted in any of our preferred three secondary schools. We've been offered a place at the catchment school instead. I'd like to appeal this decision on the basis that Spanish is the only language offered at this school, whereas the three I chose have several other languages as part of the curriculum. My daughter is bilingual in Spanish and English as both my husband and I are Spanish. I consider that it would be a waste of time for her to be seating in Spanish classes 3 hours per week. When I visited this school, I asked about this and they answered that unfortunately, they did not have other options in languages. As she already speaks two languages, it would be easier to learn an additional one and I think this can be important for her future.
My daughter is a very good student with an excellent can do attitude. Teacher's feedback has always been very positive in terms of her personality, effort and willingness to help others.
Do you think I may have a strong case? Should I ask her teacher for a letter supporting the benefits of having her in class (something along this lines)? My first choice school offers the IB and this is one of the main reasons I chose it. Should I include this somehow in my appeal? How do I support this? Thanks a lot for your help, I am very lost in this and any comment would be very much appreciated.

Argh. Just lost a long post. Gist was: listen to prh47bridge, admission, PatriciaHolm and others who are knowledgeable about appeals. Don’t listen to superram, whose vehemence is not backed up by any knowledge.

AppealHelp - things get very muddled if two or more appeals are being discussed on the same thread. I’ve replied on your thread.

Just noticed that this was an old thread, until AppealHelp revived it!

Ask your daughter’s dance school for a personal recommendation. They can testify to her talent a determination. Is your preferred school strong in drama? That could be another good point, as your daughter has performing experience. Musicals with big casts are good choices for secondary school plays; most of them need highly proficient dancers. Good luck on your appeal.