General Appeal questions

[JM231]

Afternoon,

Sorry as i know there are a lot of appeal chats happening but I had a few questions regarding appealing in general that I didnit see being covered in other chats - if anyone could help, it would be much appreciated!

1. I know you cant add additional evidence after the letter but do you have to play all your cards/arguments in the letter? My concern is that it will allow the school to see and prepare responses a long time in advance?

2. i understand we see the Admission authority's case 7 days before the hearing but when do they see ours? as we have to send our appeal to the school in April doesn't that allow then an unfair advantage to plan the responses?

3. When arguing on grounds of subjects/clubs that the school offer that are not offered elsewhere - would A-Level choices be applicable for a year 7 appeal or only GCSE options?

4. There is a lot of info regarding the strength of the LA's case in other threads - but surely 99% of the time their argument is simply " we are full". Maybe its my ignorance but what else would they bring to the table?

All time and help is much appreciated.

sorry - I badly worded that -

all the appeals for a given school for Y7 or Reception, will be heard at the same time with the same panel

Just wondering....................once the panel receive the appeal papers to read in advance do they ever discuss with the other panel members before the meeting? or is the first time they talk about it in the room?

No. I wouldn’t have contact details for the other panel members and, frankly, I wouldn’t have time or the inclination. We read the papers beforehand (and I make notes of the things I want to probe at the hearing) but our first discussion is on the day.

great - thanks for clarfiying

Why are you asking this? The appeals code, sets out how appeals are managed, to ensure they are independent and fair to both parties.

@PanelChair to be honest im not too sure. i think as it is approaching and getting more real just trying to understand what happens on the other side

@SueSue12 I know how you feel. I am trying to absorb any info I can about secondary appeals and leant as much as possible. I just rang the LEA to check on sending in supporting evidence and had quite a long chat about the whole process. She was lovely and I just enjoyed discussing appeals processes with her!

Have you had the appeal yet op?

Hi - looking for some advice about how to challenge the school's case without coming across rude/aggressive/confrontational!

For example if in the schools case they havent mentioned anything about going over PAN in prior years but I know that they have. Should I say.............

Have you been over PAN in prior years?

or

I know you have been over PAN in prior years

IE should it always be a question?!?!??!?!!?

@SueSue12 have you seen the thread in this section called Summing up by the appellant? On it @NatM70 gives a recount of her appeal experience and you might find some of it useful. Good luck! I am wondering a lot of the same questions as you, so following all your posts!

@SuperSue77
I'm happy to share anything that may help.
There were lots of things I would not have thought of without the help from professionals, not to mention all the research I did.
I absolutely did not dramatise or make anything up - I didn't need to (and I wouldn't have done this in and case), as my child's needs are such that my appeal is quite strong.
Anything else I could think of that adversely affects my child just adds weight to the appeal.
Definitely download the ACE appeals document from their website. For £4.99, it is worth its weight in gold.
And get as much from professionals as you can.
Luckily I have some documents with 'X child needs to attend X school because of X reasons'.
Really think of absolutely everything - whilst travel generally isn't taken in to account, if you add in very good reasons why travel for your child is an important factor, then use it.
Same with friends going to X school - this isn't generally something that holds weight. But if your child would be disadvantaged by not being with their support network, then use this too. And make sure you state reasons why, and try to get a letter from school to back this up.
Like I said, think of everything, think outside the box, throw everything at it, as you get one shot.
And if that isn't enough, at least you know you've fought your hardest and could do no more.
Good luck.
Please let me know how you get on!

The only opportunity you will have to address the admission authority's representative directly is when you are asking them questions after they have presented their case. You therefore need to stick to questions.

Had DD's appeal hearing today. The questions from the school seemed a bit strange to me: had I accepted the place at the allocated school, had I made contact with the senco at that school and did DD have any friends going to that school. After everything I'd read on here about focusing on the school you were appealing for not the one you had been allocated I wasn't expecting this line of questioning. Is this normal?

@Maiyakat I’ve heard of panels asking what your “plan B” is, so maybe that is another way of them asking that question. I think they also like to see that you have explored the offered option and not just dismissed it out of hand as it wasn’t preferred school. How did it go otherwise? Where there many appealing?

@SuperSue77 appeal refused 😞 there were around 25 appealing, school very over subscribed.

Oh no @Maiyakat really sorry to hear that. That’s not a dissimilar number to those appealing for the school we want 😬
So were you the last set of hearings? I’m surprised you found out the result so quickly. Ours is due to be heard over 3 days with the panel making their decision on the 4th day. I’m hoping we find out by the Friday as it’s half term week after that.

@Whimsocal no, just joining the general discussion

In stage 1 of the appeal (grouped ones as multiple appeals) do the panel question the schools case or do they leave it all up to the appealants? would this be the first time the panel get a chance to question the school case

Both parents and panelists will question the school. Who goes first is up to the chair!

..and yes it is the first opportunity for direct questions, though , like the appellants, we have read the schools case on paper beforehand.

Morning me again - i have already submitted my case. if I have evidence to challenge the school case should I send it in or just raise it as a question at the stage 1 hearing?

yes as it’s evidence to counter claims by the school and I have only just seen the schools case

If you have documentary evidence you must send it in.