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

@Lou22345891 always focus on the school you want, not the school you don't want. So anything negative about your allocated school has to presented as a positive feature of your desired school.

School A has a large intake. School B has a small intake which will be essential for Tommy due to his disability.

School A has lots of stairs and Tommy will find that hard. School B has a level site with very few stairs. Tommy finds stairs particularly difficult, so a level site will help him to be independent as he mobilises.

School A is rough School B is known for its nurturing culture. Tommy requires nurture as he has been bullied for his physical disability and lacks self-esteem.

@Lougle thank you for the advice. I know what I need to say it’s just how to word it. So this very helpful. Do I write it in sort of bullet points as my reasons to why he should attend their school or like a letter. I’m not too sure

As long as it's legible, it doesn't matter. I quite like bullet points because they're focused, but as long as you are clear about why you think he should be given a place, that's fine.

Hi hoping to get some advice re upcoming appeal to Harris Crystal Palace. We live 0.7 miles from the school and my two elder boys both attended there with excellent outcomes. My youngest DS got 3A in the entrance test, and is interested in tech etc, it was first on our list.

Instead he was offered a place at Harris South Norwood, 0.6 miles but far larger, and outstanding if you are EAN, FSM, at risk of gang affiliation, criminal activity, domestic violence and mental health issues, which ofsted identify as the prevalent issues for kids at school. Unfortunately DS is small and skinny, middle class, white, shy and a bully magnet, diagnoses of ASD/ADHD/DCD and SPD, shuts down if the classroom is noisy, and needs a quiet, kind, studious peer group to support his learning. We felt we had no choice but to refuse the place, so he now has no school to attend.

I just paid £370 for a pointless consult with someone from the Good Schools Guide, who didn't know where we live, or anything about the school, and gave me completely wrong information and was overwhelmingly negative about the appeal, suggesting instead that we get a list of schools with places from Croydon, also approach lambeth and southwark, which she seemed to think we are right on the border of even though we are not, and made us very depressed that he's not going to get a school at all.

We are going to apply for EHCP, but his needs are not at that level in his current school, which is mixed intake. I have always thought that private schools are a bit risky for SEN boys, due to the alpha male bullying and omnipresence of heavy substance misuse, I work in ADHD and have never seen any of my young male patients do particularly well in these settings, plus expense of course....but now wondering if there are any suitable schools anyone could recommend as we are desperate not to let (redacted) down,

Thanks,

Helen

Hi @JulietteHelen you might want to ask fir your post to be removed as it names people. Also would suggest starting your own thread. Are you appealing for the desired school? Are you on waiting lists for any others? The advice is not to decline a place unless you can go private or home educate. Is private a possibility in financial terms? If you are appealing, there are lots of helpful experts on this board

There’s a thread from earlier this year about secondaries in SN, looking for alternatives to the Harris (have tried to link below, hope it works!)

It sounds like you’ve made your decision but If the Harris is Outstanding, are you sure it won’t work for your son? It surely can’t only be ‘Outstanding’ for the groups you mention

SN schoolshttps://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4501358-south-norwood-secondary-black-hole

Good luck!

Start a new thread - you'll get some very helpful advice on your appeal. Essentially you need to look at all the things your appeal school has that your offered school doesn't. Don't mention the negatives of the offered school. But things like appeal school is only one that offers German and he has been having German lessons, or he is a talented oboe player and appeal school is only one with a wind band will all help.

JulietteHelen - You need a contingency plan in case your appeal does not succeed. Which is your home borough? They are not obliged to make you any second offer so you need to join waiting lists, in the hope of finding a school place for September. If you are close to Harris CP then presumably you are not far from neighbouring boroughs.

For the appeal, you need to identify positive arguments in favour of your child attending the preferred school, and why they will be disadvantaged if they don’t get a place. Arguments against the allocated school aren’t relevant and bear in mind that anything that sounds like disparaging the students at the allocated school could backfire on you - for all you know, panel members have children at that school.

I've some question abt the yr 7 appeal, can I seek the advise from you? thank you.

it's really a stressful stuff especially we are new to this country....

@MHhh Probably best off starting a new thread then people will be more likely to see and respond! There are a number of us here happy to help.

Hi I'm in a similar situation , just wondered what the outcome was of your appeal?
Thanks