Appeal for in-year place

[mummakes]

I'm pretty unhappy with my daughters present school. It pushes political ideas to a level which I would call indoctrination. Often the kids are fed misinformation ("facts" which sound suspicious and when I look them up - they are from such dubious sources that you can call them misinformation at best). I am just worried that education is being substituted with ideology. I am pretty shocked and it is across a few subject. Not all.

My kid is very musical (grade 7 in two instruments) and I have tried to get her into another state school with a music specialism school on an appeal. It failed. Her present school was meant to be strong on music, but since joining many of the music mums complain it's pretty weak on music. I have been granted another appeal for the same school. I'm mainly keen because the music programme looks like but would very much nurture my child's need, and by all account they are a normal un politicised school. I'd like to take some advice before I write the appeal letter.

At the last appeal I did mention the politics, and that was probably a mistake, I should be appealing for a school not against the present, as I now understand it. I thought I had a strong case with music, but the panel pretty much ignored my points on music. The clerk gives the impression that mostly appeals are only upheld on grounds of compassion where the family faces extreme tragedy. This is not my case, but we are a low income family and keeping up with music expenses is a constant struggle, and sometimes impossible. Sometimes she simply doesn't do many of the extras most music-kids do. She needs theory lessons for example. I do think it is fair that my child has a chance at a better music education, but we do not (thankfully) face a horrible tragedy.

Has anyone any experience of cases like this getting through on educational needs such as music?

Some practical advice would also be good. How long should my appeal letter be ideally. How much evidence should I give. What would be good in supporting and proving my case?

Thanks, apologies if this is a bit of a repeat of may last appeal - which was not so long ago...

I remember your previous thread, where you got a lot of good advice (and, if I remember correctly, we also discussed this off thread). Are you saying you’ve now got a second appeal soon after the first one? How and why?

I also remember your other thread, where you were told not to focus on the bad aspects of the current school, why ask again if you have no plans to heed the advice?

@PanelChair

yes. that's right. The reason I can have one so soon after is that that was a in-year 7 appeal and I've been allowed to to do an in-year 8 straight after, however if they can't find a date before the end of term it will be early September.

@Crockof
I did get a lot of good advice, and I did heed it. –So no need for the wrist slapping;). However, I had already written the appeal letter before I asked for advice. I had mentioned I didn't like the present school, and couldn't retract that. I'm not really active on mumsnet usually and didn't realise what a brilliant resource it can be and how many knowledgeable people help. That has been very touching.

I added a note to the original appeal outlining just the music (with lots of evidence) and a little on the school we are appealing to exceeding PAN in the past. My presentation to the panel was only about music. However, the music elements were completely ignored in the decision letter from the panel. I am not trying to waste people's time if that's the implication. I felt it was good advice, I heeded it but I still failed. At the appeal itself the chair thanked me for sending in all the music information, but she couldn't possibly judge my daufgter's musical talent. I did then (super politely) explain this wasn't about her judging her talents (the evidence kind of proved her musical ability). That what I was showing was why my daughter needed this particular school. I guess what I am trying to glean is - whether this was just unlucky? Did I do something wrong -possibly sending extra info overwhelmed the panel? Someone suggested that the panel didn't weight my balance of prejudice against the schools properly as they didn't really take on board my actual arguments. I can complain to the ESFA, and might still. My fear is that this LA apparently has very few appeals (a few a term) and possibly they don't hear a whole range of cases. The clerk gives me the distinct feeling that only very dire family circumstances go through. That was not the impression I got from here. So something feels wrong.

My plan is to only go for the music this time and make clear we are low income. I guess I just mention it here I don't like the present school , by way of giving an honest overview, and someone did mention that the panel would probably want to know why we didn't want our present school and it might be worth a small mention - that also seemed like good advice.

I'm a bit worried that I thought I had a strong case with the music and it didn't go through, and I'm trying to just give it my best final shot.

I don’t think there’s much I can usefully add because, realistically, not much can have changed since your appeal a few weeks ago.

I (and many others) advised you not to dwell on how much you dislike the current school, but to focus on all the reasons why your daughter would benefit from attending the preferred school. Your goal is to persuade the appeal panel that the prejudice (ie detriment) to your daughter in not getting a place outweighs any prejudice to the school in having to accommodate an additional pupil. Obviously you did not persuaded the panel and the decision letter should have explained why.

All I can suggest is that you try again. The difficulty, I suspect, is that the appeal panel accepted that the school does have a strong case not to admit, and your arguments were not strong enough to tip the balance in your favour. You will therefore need to work harder to persuade them.

@PanelChair

I hear you. Will try again. Thanks for the advice.