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Secondary education

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Original poster

In Preparation for Appeal Panel Day

104 replies

Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:29

So… like the title states… im attempting to mentally prepare myself for the day of the appeal. Im just wondering (& hoping im not the only one). Do you go in (Teams or face to face) with a written script maybe summarising what you have already said in your written appeal?? Is that what previous people have done?? Or do parents just wait for any questions posed to them from the presenting officer or panel and answer those. Are we expected to re-iterate what we already said… I just don’t know what’s expected and don’t want to end up being flustered if I’m expected to have a long speech prepared and end up in a tizz!!! 🫠 Send help!! 🤦🏽‍♀️

if any of this makes sense and anyone has experience or similar worries please

OP posts:
Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:35

I recall you on the other thread being 37th on the waiting list?

if you are confident that your grounds are very solid and been advised that likely successful ie a cock up on behalf of the LEA, don’t worry. Go in, respond to questions. All well.

If not, then yes you need to prepare as much as possible and draw on whatever (as long as relevant not just “I like it”) with FACTS.

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:38

nd also showing that the school offers things academically and extra-curricular that the allocated school doesn’t.

do not say this OP.

what you are essentially saying is that what’s sufficient for the children that attend the school you have been given, isn’t good enough for your daughter

will go down like a lead balloon

Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:40

Yes that’s us… went from 35th to 37th. I can’t say for a fact whether the panel will agree that the LA should have put my DD in a different category (just part of my argument and my opinion I guess). She definitely will not get a place from the waiting list so it all rides on this appeal as she has already told me she won’t go to the allocated school (she’s not a naughty child that would normally refuse school like this, she’s very academic and wants to do well in life so I know it must be having a big impact for her to say that).

OP posts:
Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:42

@Cleoforever how would you re-phrase that in a positive way towards my child as unfortunately factually the allocated school does not offer some of the things that the preferred school does that are relevant to what my daughter already does outside of school and also from an academic point of view too

OP posts:
Parker231 · 17/04/2023 15:43

What are your grounds for appeal?

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:46

Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:42

@Cleoforever how would you re-phrase that in a positive way towards my child as unfortunately factually the allocated school does not offer some of the things that the preferred school does that are relevant to what my daughter already does outside of school and also from an academic point of view too

Honestly op

don’t raise it

you are saying that a school is not right for your child because it doesn’t offer the extra curricular activities that the other one does

can you honestly not see how that is if bugger all interest to the appeal panel. If they accepted that… what a precedent!

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:47

its not about criticising the other school

Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:52

@Parker231 a few things. I applied originally under Medical & Social criteria which was 2nd on the list of criteria for a medical condition (can give more info if need be) I supplied a letter from a professional and both myself and the professional offered to provide more information if it was required. I was not contacted for more info, nor was the professional. My daughter did not get the school we wanted and was given another school. Looking at where she is on the waiting list my assumption is that medical & Social was not applied and she was judged by distance (which explains 37th on the waiting list). Had she of been in medical criteria she would have been given a place, I personally feel and so do two of her medical professionals that it would be of greater detriment to her if she were not to attend the preferred school. I have also stated in the letter not just this but also the reasons why we applied for that particular school on those grounds and how her medical condition affects her daily etc. LA didn’t really give me a clear explanation as to why her medical need was not taken into account. It just says on the letter something about she was placed where she is as they felt her need to be lesser than those above her but that doesn’t say that her medical need was taken into account or not and more importantly, why not.

OP posts:
Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:54

she was placed where she is as they felt her need to be lesser than those above her but that doesn’t say that her medical need was taken into account or not and more importantly, why not.

quite clearly they did take it in to account and they concluded that others were more in need

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:55

Why is your preferred school better able to deal with her medical needs? You need to be absolutely specific with them on this point.

Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:56

@Cleoforever but im not criticising the other school because they DONT have those things, im saying what we prefer about the preferred school.

OP posts:
Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:57

It’s not about “preference” Op!!

you are going about this all wrong OP

i will bow out and I wish you well

Dacadactyl · 17/04/2023 15:57

It's fine to say that the preferred school offers more than the allocated one and that your child will be disadvantaged by not attending a school with such provision.

You're not doing down the allocated school by stating facts, but it may not be enough to win the appeal.

The basis of our appeal is on exactly those grounds...that the allocated school does not offer the extracurricular stuff that the preferred school does. Ive not dissed the allocated school at all.

Whether the panel agree that the disadvantage to my son will be greater than to those already in the school though,is another matter.

IhearyouClemFandango · 17/04/2023 15:58

But that is kind of irrelevant. The appeal is to assess whether procedure was followed, and whether the detriment to your child exceeds the detriment to the school of potentially going over PAN.

Can she not do extra curriculars outside of school?

Dacadactyl · 17/04/2023 15:58

OP, do you have the current figures of children in each year group? Is the school currently over PAN?

Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:58

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 15:54

she was placed where she is as they felt her need to be lesser than those above her but that doesn’t say that her medical need was taken into account or not and more importantly, why not.

quite clearly they did take it in to account and they concluded that others were more in need

But those who came above her weren’t others with a medical need, they were distance and other criteria’s. I have clearly explained in my letter the reasons why the preferred school meet her medical needs better and I also put in two professional letters from two separate people who have also said in there opinion what she needs and the affects of not meeting those needs

OP posts:
IhearyouClemFandango · 17/04/2023 15:59

Then that is the sole thing to focus on, whether the criteria and procedures were followed.

SheilaFentiman · 17/04/2023 15:59

@Hye000 saying about extra curricular activities at the preferred school is what I have seen admissions folk advise on here, so hopefully that’s ok.

I think the LA has to tell you what category they put your DD in.

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 16:00

The basis of our appeal is on exactly those grounds...that the allocated school does not offer the extracurricular stuff that the preferred school does. Ive not dissed the allocated school at all.

You will not be successful

you have to think about precedents. If the council said yes to this then it opens up a tidal way of parents saying they want this extracurricular activity

Original poster
Hye000 · 17/04/2023 16:00

Dacadactyl · 17/04/2023 15:57

It's fine to say that the preferred school offers more than the allocated one and that your child will be disadvantaged by not attending a school with such provision.

You're not doing down the allocated school by stating facts, but it may not be enough to win the appeal.

The basis of our appeal is on exactly those grounds...that the allocated school does not offer the extracurricular stuff that the preferred school does. Ive not dissed the allocated school at all.

Whether the panel agree that the disadvantage to my son will be greater than to those already in the school though,is another matter.

That’s what I’m trying to say, it’s impossible to state that one school offers (eg) football as an extra curricular activity without pointing out that the other does not. It’s not criticising, it’s just fact

OP posts:
Dacadactyl · 17/04/2023 16:00

Also OP, I put in a 2 page appeal letter with bullet points of why we think he will be disadvantaged by not attending preferred school.

Then I have a speech prepared elaborating on the bullet points.

Never been through the process before though so not sure if this approach will prove to be the right one.

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 16:00

They will hear “extra curricular” and shut down

added to which by their very nature - extra curricular can be withdrawn at any time and not something the Lea is involved or interested in

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 16:01

The LEA is not least bit interested in “extra curricular”!!

It is the core provision of the child in relation to your child

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 16:01

Of the school

IhearyouClemFandango · 17/04/2023 16:04

When we went through appeal (again, with medical evidence) we made our case, the school made theirs.

We then asked them to address our points (as they had just made a generic statement) . They asked for time to review daughter's case (much to the disapproval of the panel as they should have read it sooner). 10 mins later made the same points.

School and panel both said that while they sympathised with her medical needs, the school would ld be more disadvantaged by taking extra than she would be going elsewhere.

So she went elsewhere, and is top set and very happy. It was touch and go, but we got there.

Every parent thinks they have a cast iron case, often due to preference. But you need to stick to procedures in an appeal as you are asking them to go over PAN