Secondary school appeal, help please

[Kimmjames]

Hi, so I have appealed my daughters secondary school place, the academy deal with their appeals independently, and have been sent information today including the case for the academy, which seems very strong and I’m now really worried that we don’t stand a chance, could someone who has experience please shed some light, I would be extremely appreciative.

We’re appealing on mental health grounds and trouble she’s repeatedly had with another pupil who will also be attending the offered school (physically assaulted) current primary school have written a letter to support, and also stating the struggles she’s being having an the concerns of what attending offered schools will cause.

I am also struggling to find information about previous appeals and if they’ve ever accepted more than the pan before, I’ve been given the 1st week of May as to when the appeal will be heard. But I’m feeling really disheartened after reading through the information the academy has sent today, could someone please advise or help, and if more detail is required I’m happy to give.

Thank you in advance :)

Sorry just to add to that, what I'm asking is what are the chances of an appeal of the grounds being successful? when the school are adamant that the admission of even just 1 more pupil will be detrimental to the other pupils, and school say they are basically custom built to only hold 26 pupils per class and that work stations, classroom layouts and equipment can only accommodate 26 pupils at a time, and they physically do not have the space to accommodate another pupil. Are there ever scenarios where a panel will reject 100% off appeals to a particular school?

Thank you again

Yes, panels regularly reject 100% of appeals.
That's not to say they will in your case. However, they have criteria they use in admissions and appeals. What do they say? Usually it is prioritised by things like:
LAC
School is full
EHCP
Sibling already in school
Member of staff's child
Distance of house

Where does your appeal fit?
Why does it have to be this school? Is there another school with spaces?

It is not personal, although it may feel like it. They may be sympathetic to your child's situation.
I once sat in an appeal day when I was a Deputy Head. We had 35 appeals. They were all refused on the same basis- space- except one.

The child's form had not been filled in by her dad because he was ill and she was allocated another school automatically because we were full. Her father appealed on the basis that he had health conditions, her mother had a terminal health condition and her grandma lived next to our school and she mainly lived with her grandma who supported her. The panel were sympathetic to the child's situation and allowed the appeal - had the form been submitted on time originally, she would have got in because of her address, never mind her grandma's.

@LuluJakey1 Hi,

So strident sit an exam to place them in to a specific band then once in the band the places are allocated against their admissions criteria which is;
LAC
Children of staff
Distance from the academy

My child falls in to the last criteria, when there were more pupils that live closer than we do with in the band than there are places, so she didn’t get in, but if she was in a different band she would have got in as there were less pupils who lived closer, which is frustrating.

She is 10th on the waiting list Within her band but all places have been accepted so it’s unlikely she will get in that way.

The other local schools don’t deal with bullying as strictly as the one we’re appealing for and this plays a big part in why we want this school, I did think we had a strong case but I am having serious doubts about it now.

I don’t know if anyone has ever had an appeal upheld for this school before I’m trying to find information online but I am struggling, I’m unsure if it’s something I can ask the school themselves?

They don’t have a social and medical criteria?

Hi, I’m going through a very similar process, also 10th on waiting list. I’m appealing on Social and medical grounds, dc has some SEN and diagnosed anxiety, we have supporting letters from his educational psychologist and psychotherapist and current school sendco and class teacher saying he will be at a disadvantage if he doesn’t attend the preferred school. Appeal not until June. Really hoping we miraculously get a waiting list place before then!
I’d get as much professional back up as you can for the appeal from any professionals involved as this will strengthen your case.
Best of luck!

I think you might struggle if you present it as wanting to be apart from other child/ren. They could argue all schools can deal with bullying and her social group will be wider at any secondary. Are there other closer schools in the area? Why would she benefit from this one specifically?

And can you submit a foi request regarding pupils numbers and pan.

@DellaPorter

They don’t have a social and medical criteria?

Hi, They have a separate procedure for children with an EHPC, but we don't fall in to this category

@Thischarmlessgirl

Hi, I’m going through a very similar process, also 10th on waiting list. I’m appealing on Social and medical grounds, dc has some SEN and diagnosed anxiety, we have supporting letters from his educational psychologist and psychotherapist and current school sendco and class teacher saying he will be at a disadvantage if he doesn’t attend the preferred school. Appeal not until June. Really hoping we miraculously get a waiting list place before then! I’d get as much professional back up as you can for the appeal from any professionals involved as this will strengthen your case. Best of luck!

Hi, it's so stressful isn't it!! We only have a letter from the deputy head saying that they're particularly concerned about how problematic the situation could be should she have to attend where she has been given, best of luck for your appeal I really hope you get a your child's place one way or another :)

@LIZS

I think you might struggle if you present it as wanting to be apart from other child/ren. They could argue all schools can deal with bullying and her social group will be wider at any secondary. Are there other closer schools in the area? Why would she benefit from this one specifically?

Hi, There are schools closer than the one given, but none closer to the one we're appealing for, I have already sent in my appeal now based on her social and emotional struggles and the appeal does focus on those.

Additionally the school we want has incredible facilities can facilitate her interests more than other local schools can ie theatre and science laboratories and d+t

But I will admit in the appeal these fall secondary in my grounds of appeal with the main reason being her mental health &social and emotional struggles.

@LIZS

And can you submit a foi request regarding pupils numbers and pan.

Thank you for this, would you happen to know if I request this from the school themselves? Or the local authority?

I would think the school

LuluJakey’s post might have given the impression that your appeal depends on where it fits within the school’s oversubscription criteria. It doesn’t. What the panel has to decide is whether the prejudice (ie disadvantage) to your child if not admitted to the school outweighs the prejudice to the school in having to accommodate another pupil.

What the school have said in their statement is exactly what all schools say. It’s the standard response. You need to persuade the panel that, even so, your child needs a place.

At the moment, your case does not sound strong because you’ve identified a reason for not wanting the offered school. You need to turn this around and make arguments in favour of the preferred school. If you’re arguing on social/medical grounds, you need to show that your child has needs which this school can meet better than others and provide supporting evidence from health care professionals. Think about other reasons why your child would benefit from being at this school (which might be curriculum, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care or whatever).

You don’t need to make an FOI request to get information about pupil numbers etc. Just ask for it. The school has to answer reasonable requests for information related to your appeal.

Hi @PanelChair thank you for your response I have put arguments in favour of the preferred school but must admit upon reading posts in these forums and comments, I’m not confident it’s enough, and I am starting to worry. I do have a letter from her primary school deputy head backing up her struggles but that is all I have.

Is there anyway I could send the appeal to you for you to read through? as I know I’ve been vague in explaining what’s in there.

Yes, feel free to send it to me by DM. For now, it sounds to me as if the main weakness is not having a letter of support from anyone apart from the deputy head - usually, where children are struggling, there's evidence of medical or social worker involvement.