Appealing for a secondary school place

[Choccyaddict4eva]

Hi everyone. I’m looking for those who have had first hand experience in appealing for a secondary school place. DS1 didn’t get his first choice, he got his third choice. Still a good school, but he and I would have rather he got into the first choice- it’s also closer. He doesn’t have any physical or mental needs which I know gives children more priority. On the appeals form I can list up to 5/6 reasons stating why I think my son should be given a place at that particular school. Has anyone been through this process and been successful? Thanks in advance

Have you tried the Elevenplus exams site? Lots of very helpful specialists on there. HTH.

You need to concentrate your arguments on why the detriment to your son of not attending the school outweighs the detriment to the school of adding an additional pupil and what the appealed for school can offer than no other school can.

Things like he is a talented musician and the appealed for school has an orchestra and the offered school doesn't. He has a talent for a particular subject and studies this in his own time now and it is offered for GCSE at the appealed school and not the offered school.

Distance will not usually be considered unless the distance you are being asked to travel is unreasonable.

What does the school provide that the offered school doesn't that may detrimentally impact your child?

My appeal (obviously not been heard yet) is based on social, emotional and mental health needs. She is rather vulnerable and the only person in her current school who has been offered this school rather than standard feeder.

If you would like to give more details about your reasons there are experts on here (I'm one of them) who will advise you as to the strength of your case and what you can do to make it better.

As others have said, you need to pinpoint how and why your child needs to attend this school and will be disadvantaged if he does not. Your liking for this school or its closeness to home won’t win you an appeal.

@DarlingOscar

Have you tried the Elevenplus exams site? Lots of very helpful specialists on there. HTH.

I haven’t no, I will have a look, thank you

@prh47bridge

If you would like to give more details about your reasons there are experts on here (I'm one of them) who will advise you as to the strength of your case and what you can do to make it better.

Hi, thank you for offering to help. The reasons why we want our first choice are: it offers a special scholar programme for all in year 7-9- it covers subjects such as history and philosophy, my son has always had an interest in these subjects and studies them in his spare time. It offers computer science as a GCSE, my son has expressed an interest in a career in computing. The school places a focus on oracy and literacy and developing speaking skills- my son has always been praised for being able to construct logical balanced, critical arguments from a young age, and I believe this programme could help him thrive and excel even more in supporting him to achieve his maximum potential in education and future career. The school also offers a careers programme in order to ensure pupils are supported in making the right choices beyond year 11. Lastly, the school has an excellent reputation for behaviour and towards bullying- my son has suffered and been a target in his primary school by another pupil with the school not doing enough about it, which has left him feeling anxious about the same thing happening at secondary school.

Those are absolutely the right things to concentrate on. If the allocated school doesn't offer these things, they are all good reasons why your son will be disadvantaged if he doesn't go to this school. The careers programme is probably the weakest point as it will be a few years before that is relevant, but it is still worth raising if the allocated school doesn't have such a programme or you can point to ways in which the one in the appeal school is better.

It sounds like you have the makings of a strong case there. Of course, that doesn't guarantee success. That depends on the strength of the school's case to refuse admission, the strength of the cases put forward by other appellants and, to some degree, the panel you get. But you definitely have a chance of success.

@prh47bridge

Those are absolutely the right things to concentrate on. If the allocated school doesn't offer these things, they are all good reasons why your son will be disadvantaged if he doesn't go to this school. The careers programme is probably the weakest point as it will be a few years before that is relevant, but it is still worth raising if the allocated school doesn't have such a programme or you can point to ways in which the one in the appeal school is better.

It sounds like you have the makings of a strong case there. Of course, that doesn't guarantee success. That depends on the strength of the school's case to refuse admission, the strength of the cases put forward by other appellants and, to some degree, the panel you get. But you definitely have a chance of success.

Thanks so much for your feedback, it’s good to know I’m on the right track! I’m aware there is a section on the appeals form that permits you to attach ‘evidence’ to support your case further- do you have any suggestions as to what this evidence could be?

On the whole, panels don’t expect documentary evidence of every point you’re making, but if you’ve got evidence (say) of his studies in history or philosophy that will add weight, because (say) having done a children’s workshop at the local museum or university takes you beyond the sort of vague statement that “my child is interested in philosophy” that panels often hear.

@PanelChair

On the whole, panels don’t expect documentary evidence of every point you’re making, but if you’ve got evidence (say) of his studies in history or philosophy that will add weight, because (say) having done a children’s workshop at the local museum or university takes you beyond the sort of vague statement that “my child is interested in philosophy” that panels often hear.

Thank you, I will have a look through some things which he has completed that I could possibly add.

@AvaCallanach I’m appealing under the same criteria, never been so stressed in my life! My DS has been offered a school 12 miles away with no other children from his primary (we didn’t list it) We have a supporting letter from an educational psychologist my son psychotherapist as he suffers with anxiety, and supporting letters from his primary school headteacher class teacher and sendco. I’m appealing for our first two preferred schools.
@Choccyaddict4eva - best of luck, the experts here have been so helpful and knowledgeable, it’s definitely given me a little more confidence.
I submitted our appeal paperwork yesterday so now we play the waiting game.

Thank you, I will have a look through some things which he has completed that I could possibly add.

Getting the opinions of teachers, tutors or similar about his work would be better than putting in his actual work.

Yes, I meant things like certificates or badges from having done (say) a workshop or a letter from a tutor saying that the child is studying something at a level beyond their years. Panels can’t really do much with bits of school work, art projects or whatever!

I’m just wondering will the school I’m appealing for get to read my appeal or is it the LA that deals with my appeal thanks

@AvaCallanach

My appeal (obviously not been heard yet) is based on social, emotional and mental health needs. She is rather vulnerable and the only person in her current school who has been offered this school rather than standard feeder.

Hi, Another panel member here. You really need some written evidence on your child's needs. Just you saying that she needs to be with friends will not carry much weight I'm afraid. Please send it before appeal day, our panel will not accept added information produced on the day. Good luck!

@Mstiva

I’m just wondering will the school I’m appealing for get to read my appeal or is it the LA that deals with my appeal thanks

It can vary, in my area, there is an academy trust with a large number of schools who don't subscribe to the LA appeal process and do their own, so in that case a school representative usually head or deputy will put the case for the school and so will hear your evidence. Also we occasionally have school representatives attend the appeals as well as the LA. It really doesn't matter though as it is the independent panel who make the decision

Mstiva - I can't remember whether the school you're appealing for is an academy, which manages its own admissions. The bundle of appeal papers, which will include your statement, will go to the panel members and the admissions authority (so the academy or the local education authority if it isn't an academy). That way, everyone has the same information in front of them.

I agree with Raera. It isn't enough to say at appeal that a child has social and emotional needs or that they are vulnerable. All children have needs and the panel needs some evidence, so that they can distinguish between those children for whom the usual settling-in support will be enough and those who need to be at a particular school or to remain with their friends for their needs to be met.

Our panels generally will accept evidence on the day where it's been promised (for example, the appeal statement says that the child's consultant will write a letter and the parent brings the letter on the day) but it's better to submit the evidence in advance. That way, all parties have the opportunity to consider it - we've occasionally had to adjourn appeals because the new evidence has raised significant issues that need time to consider.

As you can see from the previous posts, some appeal panels will accept written evidence on the day of the hearing, others won't. Even if they accept the evidence, the panel may need to adjourn the hearing which won't make you popular. I would very strongly recommend making sure you submit all evidence to the clerk in plenty of time before the hearing so that it can be circulated to the panel members and the admission authority.

Raera, Panelchair
Thanks. I have evidence from a psychologist and her current school. Her current head has said in the letter that he doesn't usually write in support of appeals as he understands the pressures on places but is making an exception.
My daughter is in top 5 on waiting list - or was on offers day - so we are hoping we won't have to go to appeal.
Onwards and upwards!

@Mstiva

I’m just wondering will the school I’m appealing for get to read my appeal or is it the LA that deals with my appeal thanks

Here yes. You send us at the school the appeal form. We then put our case together and pass on to the council who then organise our appeals. A part of that process would be to address any inaccuracies. I’ve just had two appeal forms where parents lied about certain aspects and I have proof so I’ve had to address those points.

We appealed and won and the main thing that helped us was reading the posts on this forum. Out of 30 plus families we were the only one who really understood the process which gave us a huge advantage.

Remember that the panel are trying to help

We never know how many people who seek help from the MN threads win their appeals (or how many would have won anyway without MN help) so it's nice to hear of people who do win. I can think of a few people who I've had long conversations with behind the scenes who won their appeals.

@PorcelainCatStack hi where abouts in the country are you thanks

[quote Mstiva]@PorcelainCatStack hi where abouts in the country are you thanks[/quote]
North West