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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Secondary School Year 7 Appeal

25 replies

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:15

Hello, I was wondering if any body has advice or think I will most likely win an appeal.

My son going into year 7 didn't get his 1st choice and was offered another school. Since the admissions was released we have now moved house and will be moving to a rural location. He has gone on the waiting list for our cloest school but is 15th on the waiting list.

I have appealed for our closest school due to the fact they provide a school bus which picks up from the bottom of our road and back again. The school he has been offered do not provide transport from where we live and the nearest bus stop is a 40 minute walk and then 2 public transport buses which would then take a further 40 minutes. I work and a single parent so have no way of getting him to his allocated school.

I don't have any medical/education needs that I could put down it is purely the distant and if he doesn't get the school I have appealed for he cannot get to any other school as we are in such a rural location.

Feeling very stressed and any advice much appreciated!

Thankyou

OP posts:

titchy · 31/03/2022 19:19

The local authority is legally obliged to offer transport if the nearest school for which he qualifies for a place is over three miles - presumably it is? So they would have to provide a taxi if there is no bus service. You should clarify with the LA. I know you asked about appealing but thought it was worth mentioning as many are not aware of tbis.

However they may argue that you made the decision to move away so you don't qualify for free transport.

ChicCroissant · 31/03/2022 19:24

You are appealing for the school, not against the one you've been given so focus on anything that the closest school provides that the other one doesn't. What about the subjects on offer, is there anything the appeal school does better than the one you've accepted?

I don't think you can use the distance as a excuse when you've moved there.

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:24

Thanks for the reply! Ideally I don't want him going to his 1st offered school as it isn't very good, I was very happy once I knew we was moving and then he could go to the better school closest to us. Didn't realise he wouldn't automatically be offered a place and would have to go on the waiting list. Very naïve! So ideally I don't actually want them to offer transport to his allocated school lol

OP posts:

Lougle · 31/03/2022 19:28

Transport is a really weak argument and has a slim chance of success. As titchy says, there are laws that provide for this situation and the LA would provide transport.

You need to focus on what is good about the school you want that isn't offered at the school you don't want. Do not criticise the the school you have been offered. Focus on the benefits of your preferred school and let the criticism come from comparison.

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:37

I've just looked into applying for transport and im not sure he would qualify due to the school that he was offered, I didn't put down as on option?

OP posts:

ChicCroissant · 31/03/2022 19:38

Anyone who moves closer to the school will be ahead of your child on the waiting list if distance is the criteria, so bear that in mind.

Hellocatshome · 31/03/2022 19:41

So you have moved further away from the allocated school after you were allocated it? And the only way to get to that school now is 40 minute walk and 2 buses?

Lougle · 31/03/2022 19:42

@Chelmsford123

I've just looked into applying for transport and im not sure he would qualify due to the school that he was offered, I didn't put down as on option?

He was allocated the school. If he lives more than 3 miles away from the school (2 miles if he's entitled to pupil premium) they have to offer transport. If there is a suitable bus route, they can offer a bus pass.

Lougle · 31/03/2022 19:45

You'd be far better focusing on:
~him becoming part of the local community due to a recent house move, which would be achieved by making local friends at the local school.
~House move prevented timely application, etc.
~Other nice things about the school.
~Clubs, etc., that he could attend if he was at his local school.
~subjects offered at local school.

Stuff like that - things that would benefit him.

Smartiepants79 · 31/03/2022 19:47

@Lougle
But they have moved since the places were applied for. She has moved by choice further away?
The place has been allocated on their previous address. Does this not make a difference to whether transport will be offered? I understood that transport was only offered when the school has been allocated against parental choice.
From What little I know nothing you’ve put down here would have any influence in an appeal.

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:50

@Hellocatshome

So you have moved further away from the allocated school after you were allocated it? And the only way to get to that school now is 40 minute walk and 2 buses?

Yes that's correct!

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 31/03/2022 19:52

*Hellocatshome

So you have moved further away from the allocated school after you were allocated it? And the only way to get to that school now is 40 minute walk and 2 buses?

Yes that's correct!*

In that case I would stay away from anything relating to distance to the school and the difficulty in getting there from your appeal as that is all due to your decision to move. Find out what the school you want offers that the other school doesn't.

PanelChair · 31/03/2022 19:54

I agree with Lougle here. The fact is that (for whatever reason) the OP moved house. To win an appeal, OP needs to highlight aspects of the preferred school which will benefit their child and persuade the panel that the detriment to their child in not getting a place outweighs the detriment to the school in admitting an extra pupil. Transport issues carry very little weight here.

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:54

I didn't originally put down the school he has been allocated as a preference. So from what I read it looks as though he wouldn't qualify for transport.

Im so new to all of this so have no idea how it all works.

I just thought that because where we are moving to he wouldn't have a problem getting in there as he has no way of getting to any other school....I was VERY wrong

I'm hoping that the list moves quick and he may end up getting a place that way

OP posts:

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 31/03/2022 19:56

Thanks for all your help! It's council housing that I have been on the list for a very long time due to personal circumstances. By the time I got confirmation that we had been allocated the house, it was too late to submit new school applications. Not too sure if that makes a difference

OP posts:

alrightfella · 31/03/2022 19:57

Does your username suggest where you live. Are you happy to name the schools or area you are talking about? There is a lot of oversubscribed schools in Essex

Lougle · 31/03/2022 20:46

People move. They can't be tied to a location for months on end because of the school application process. The timing is unfortunate but it's madness to expect someone to turn down a council house because they've applied for schools.

I think you need to do this:

Contact the LA and explain that you've moved house. Ask which schools in your local area have places. There may be a school that has a place that you would be happy to accept.

Even if it isn't ideal, accept the place at a local school. It won't affect your options at appeal and it's better to be going to a school you don't like that's easy to get to, then a school you don't like that's difficult to get to.

Look in detail at all the features of your preferred school. Compare with offered school/new offered school if there is one.

Base your appeal on these features. You aren't looking for an easy school run, you're looking for local friendships and engagement with the local community.

If you want help, post with some features of school that you want to use and we can think of wording, etc.

lanthanum · 01/04/2022 11:22

If you moved three hours away, you would put in a late application, and the council would have to offer something, and provide transport if it was too far away. So I don't think I buy the argument that the council doesn't have to help with transport.

I think you should ring the admissions people for a chat. Explain about the move, that you applied for schools based on where you were living before, and ask what the options are in your new area. Hopefully they will at least do what they would do for someone completely new to the county, which would be to offer a space and transport if needed - quite possibly not at the nearest school, but not as far away as the original one.

user1471504747 · 01/04/2022 11:58

You don’t have to post them here OP but your personal reasons for needing a council house might be useful in an appeal.

For example, if you’ve left an abusive relationship and ex abuser still lives in the area of allocated school could that put DS at risk. If it’s for reasons related to a disability is DS a young carer etc

LittleMissA · 01/04/2022 12:18

We had to appeal when we moved a few years back as I applied to all the local schools and none had a space, so I appealed to the school that was in our catchment. This was primary which is actually harder to win as they have stricter pupil levels.

We were awarded a place as they did a check themselves and the closest school with a space was too far away (about 15 miles) but would take about 45 mins in rush hour. They decided that wasn't suitable and made the local school find a place for our DC.

Our main argument was they would be moving to secondary soon so important to make friends beforehand and have local friends. I said we'd started DC at local clubs eg sports and running so shown we were making an effort to get them settled in the local community. It was stressful as didn't really know how it would go but glad we did it!

Original poster

Chelmsford123 · 17/05/2022 21:33

update
Just incase anyone is going through anything similar to myself....I appealed and I won so he is now going to his closest school and the only argument I had was purely distance. Very very happy!!!

OP posts:

ShakespearesSisters · 17/05/2022 21:39

What a relief

MHhh · 17/05/2022 22:28

How long You get the result after the appeal hearing?

Tirednorthern78 · 17/05/2022 22:48

I’d mention this at your appeal. You have not moved by choice, this was allocated to you for whatever reason by the local housing association due to x, y or z.

Then mention that because of the move this school is the best school suitable for my child because establish friendship in area, etc that others have listed above

PanelChair · 17/05/2022 23:05

Great news!

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