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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary school appeal

29 replies

Butterflyheart · 05/03/2023 04:05

Hi all, just looking for some advice regarding the Secondary School appeals process. I'm currently gathering evidence and making notes to submit an appeal but I was if I should compare and contrast the school offered vs the school we wanted? For example, school 1 has extra curricular activities that DD would like to join where school 2 doesn't?

I know I'm meant to talk about why the school we want is better suited, but would it be strengthened if it was compared and evidenced that it doesn't have the provision?

Also, I'm unsure why she has not been given 1st choice (it's the closest school to us), I tried to call the number provided by our LA but they've conveniently not allowed any calls

OP posts:
whosaidtha · 05/03/2023 04:42

She won't have got first choice because it was oversubscribed by people in a higher category - eg they have siblings, live closer etc.
just focus on what this school offers for your child. Do you have more points than extra curricular activities?

Mumdiva99 · 05/03/2023 05:10

The council should have published an 'allocation profile' which tells.you which schools went to which criteria. E.g. lives in catchment to a distance of 3.6 miles....
From this you can work out why you were unsuccessful.

Yes list all the reasons school A is more suitable.

More important than appeal (as most are not successful) - make sure you are on the waitlist for the school.

prh47bridge · 05/03/2023 08:52

There is no requirement for councils to publish an "allocation profile" or similar. However, the letter telling you that you didn't get a place should set out why. As a previous poster says, it will be because other applicants were higher in the admission priorities than you. You should check that they have put your daughter in the correct admission category and that the home to school distance looks right.

You are appealing for the school you want, so the emphasis should be on the things it offers that are missing from the allocated school and that are particularly relevant to your daughter. Saying the allocated school doesn't have certain extra-curricular activities is fine but be careful you don't come across as negative about the allocated school.

PanelChair · 05/03/2023 10:02

As prh47bridge says, you are aiming to show why your child will be disadvantaged if they don’t get a place at the preferred school. You don’t need to do a full compare and contrast exercise, but highlight points like (say) they play the harp and this is the only school with a full orchestra.

If you think there has been a mistake in the allocations (rather than you being squeezed out by people in higher admissions categories) you should double-check with the LEA. Did they place you in the right admissions category? Was the home-school distance correctly measured, etc?

Original poster
Butterflyheart · 05/03/2023 11:51

Thank you all for your replies. There are more points than just the extra curricular activities, but for ease of the post I mentioned one. We can't get in touch with the admissions team as they aren't answering the phones since last Wednesday. I have requested a place on the waiting list (and accepted a place with the offered school). Hopefully they open the lines and I can get some answers.

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
Butterflyheart · 07/06/2023 14:45

Just thought I'd come and update, I was successful in my appeal. I want to thank all the experts for their advice and support (I did lurk on all the other posts too), good luck to everyone who has their appeals upcoming. Listen to the advice of the experts (they're experts for a reason) I have poured myself a nice glass of happy juice to celebrate and I can't wait to my DD to come home so I can tell her the great news! Now it's time so save up for the extortionate school uniform 😂 😂

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 07/06/2023 15:22

Great news. Well done.

afemrobe · 13/06/2023 20:08

@Butterflyheart can i ask what you focused on to prove why your child should get a place please?

Original poster
Butterflyheart · 13/06/2023 20:43

@afemrobe I focused on musical interest (with evidence), SEMH need (with evidence - 2 letters naming the school by professionals) and I explained what the school has that my DD needs. There were other points that were in my initial application that I didn't talk about on the day but the panel took it into account surprisingly (travel, friends), I put it in before I came here and got helpful advice. I'd strongly urge you to listen to the very helpful advice from the experts, get evidence and state why your child NEEDS that school not WANTS that school, and get evidence!

I went a bit overkill and sent an appendix with a fair few documents! The chair was very friendly and said I'd been ''very thorough''

Again, best of luck!

OP posts:
HarryHHarry · 13/06/2023 21:04

Congratulations! amazing news

ariadan · 03/08/2023 15:45

School Admission Appeal Year 12 Foreign Student

My son was born in the Philippines. He's 11 years old, and he just came in the UK last week (July 2023). At the same time, I applied for an overseas student's Year 12 in-year transfer. I realise the application is too late, but I assumed the child should be in the country before applying. We have a school less than ten minutes walk from our house, as well as two more schools close. But now I've received a rejection email from the council for the three schools that we choose. Then they assigned us to another school, which is 6.2 miles away.

My son is new to the nation and knows very little about it. We were separated for 5 years, and now that I've successfully brought him here, I want the best for him, and I want him to feel safe and secure. And I know that the school I chose is the finest for him because it has excellent recommendations and is also very convenient for him. Could you please assist me on how to file an appeal? This is all new to me. Now I'm frustrated.
Please accept my apologies for my poor English.

LIZS · 03/08/2023 15:52

@ariadan suggest you start a new thread for your issue. 6m is not that far for secondary in some areas. Are they offering transport? Your ds is presumably entering year 7(not 12). If you appeal you have no guarantee of success and travel will not be good grounds on its own. Are you on waiting lists for those three schools, as there may be turnover in September.

ariadan · 03/08/2023 15:59

Thank you, I am sorry I am new here on mumsnet I thought I made a new thread.

And yes you’re right year 7, sorry I got mixed up. I have not checked the allocated school yet about the transport.

I have no idea how to know if my son is on waiting list. It’s just straightforward letter.

LIZS · 03/08/2023 16:23

ariadan · 03/08/2023 15:59

Thank you, I am sorry I am new here on mumsnet I thought I made a new thread.

And yes you’re right year 7, sorry I got mixed up. I have not checked the allocated school yet about the transport.

I have no idea how to know if my son is on waiting list. It’s just straightforward letter.

You may need to ask about the waiting lists. If you live close you may be near the top. LA provide transport, or more often funding for a bus pass, if nearest available place is 3+ miles

threeslickers · 05/03/2024 12:00

I am looking for advice appealing a high school place. My daughter didn’t get any of her choices and was given an alternative. I know the chances of winning an appeal are slim but I wouldn’t be doing her justice if I didn't try as the school she has been offered is diabolical (not exaggerating) and who doesn’t want better for their child. My high school failed me and so did my family and I want better. My child doesn’t have any special circumstances why she should get the place she is in the lowest category (other children) but I know going to the school offered will hinder her education because they can’t give her one! Any help on what to put in the appeal would be greatly appreciated.

PanelChair · 05/03/2024 12:59

You will get a better response if you start your own thread.

Very briefly; to win an appeal, you will need to satisfy the panel that the prejudice (detriment) to your child if they don’t get a place outweighs the prejudice to the school in having to accommodate an extra pupil. This has to be about your child’s needs. You would be appealing for your preferred school, not against the school you’ve been offered. Nothing you’ve mentioned so far sounds like the basis of a winnable appeal.

happi2help · 05/03/2024 13:00

@threeslickers I suggest you start your own thread rather than piggy-backing on this one. To do that you need to choose "Start a new thread" from the menu at the top of the forum (see screenshot), rather than "Add post" at the bottom of a thread.

Secondary school appeal
threeslickers · 05/03/2024 16:05

New thread started thank you

Springtime7 · 07/03/2024 18:56

Hi how do i find @threeslickers post to follow / read plz?

MarchingFrogs · 07/03/2024 20:09

It's here
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5022097-appeals

Go to 'Advanced search' from the dropdown at the top of the page and look for relevant terms.

Secondary school appeal
Springtime7 · 07/03/2024 20:16

Thank u @MarchingFrogs

IwonaAndry · 07/03/2024 22:01

We received and offer for secondary school, but this school was last on our list and is the worst in the area. My daughter is one of the top 4 children in year 6 and I would like to send her to a school where there is no knife stabbing or gangs and this is the school we got. I plan to appeal but I don't know what arguments to us.

PanelChair · 07/03/2024 22:18

As I said a little upthread, you’ll get a better response if you start your own thread.

You need to pinpoint reasons why your child needs a place at the preferred school and will be disadvantaged if they don’t get one. Generalised arguments about the quality of the school you’ve been offered will carry no weight. You need to make this about your child’s needs.

IwonaAndry · 08/03/2024 08:03

PanelChair I'm sorry for that. 🤗I'm new here and I don't know how to write my own topic.

LIZS · 08/03/2024 08:28

@IwonaAndry see the post a few down,

Swipe left for the next trending thread