Summing up by the appellant

[Itmakesnosense]

Any ideas on how to approach this please? Do l just sum up the reasons why am appealing or are you allowed to say anything about the secondary schools case that might work in your favour? E.g can you say the School has gone over pan in previous years so they can admit an extra child or do you just stick to your case? The hearing would have started off with the appellant stating their case then queries from the PO& Panel then followed by summing up. So stressed and worried.

Just sum up your own case briefly at that point. Don't worry, panellists have read your documents and heard your case, and asked questions - it's really just a way of ending the process neatly! the admissions authority will do the same for their case.

@PatriciaHolm thank you. It's the first time am appealing so was not sure how to approach that part of the process.

I was so stressed and extremely worried, but I really didn't have to be (if only I'd had known this before the hearing!).

So, just from my recent experience -

At Stage 1, this is where you ask your questions about PAN, and try to (respectfully!) pick holes in the school's case.
If they have gone over PAN in a few of the years, definitely point this out, as if they've consistently gone over PAN in previous years, this shows they have coped before so therefore 'should' be able to again.
Ask things like, have there been any accidents due to being over PAN, are the classrooms 60sqm (which allows space for up to 30 pupils I believe), have school's attainment levels suffered as a result - Find this information so you can see if it has affected the attainment (ours is still above national average, even though they are considerably over PAN in every year).
Ours was a group appeal for Stage 1, and quite a few parents were aggressive or rude, which I think is not very good, especially given the Panel do this voluntarily. I could see the Panel were getting a little annoyed, as these parents were relentless and did not get it at all.
Ask all of your questions re the school at this stage, as you're not generally allowed to ask questions about the school at Stage 2.
You can email them in if you'd prefer, and the Clerk will read them out, which I did for most of my questions.
I also thought of some more, and asked these on the day, mindful not to hog the time, and allow other parents to ask questions too.
This is handy, as you might hear other parents ask questions you might not have thought of, and this may help you at your individual hearing.

Stage 2 - My written appeal was absolutely huge (with lots of screen shots attached of emails to and from professionals) 😅Luckily, the Panel laughed about it. Phew!
The lovely Panel stated they had read it, and would read it again.
So we went just over the main points, and because my written appeal was so comprehensive, this allowed time for the Panel to ask all the questions they needed to, and gave time for them to really understand my child as a human being.
I was asked some questions like, how would my child get to school, what are their strengths, what do they like to do, etc.
I felt like the Panel really helped me, rather than try to find any holes in my case.
They were a joy, and it was no where near as stressful as I anticipated.

Hope this information helps from someone who has just gone through it.

I will find out this week, hopefully today (please!!).

Good luck with yours!

@Itmakesnosense Forgot, make sure you only make this about your child - Not anyone else, just yours.
You want just one place, so your appeal is all about your child and their needs, and why this is the only school suitable for your child.

@NatM70 I just want to thank you again for sharing your experience, although I've read your other recount of what happened, reading this version has helped me further! Your point about how would your child get to school is a good one as I hadn't really thought about this and I want to be sure to have a good answer! I have thought of one which strengthens our case, so will use that :-)
Also want to let you know I have everything crossed for your outcome! Hope you hear soon.

@SuperSue77 you're very welcome.
I'm no expert, but if my experience can help anyone else, then I'm happy to try my best.
You've got to think of everything from every angle, and throw everything at it.
Anything that will affect your child adversely, state it.
Download the ACE appeals document from their website, it is a fantastic source of information for £4.99.
I worked on my appeal non stop for 2.5 months, literally so many days and nights - every spare moment was taken up with getting the reports and letters in I needed, researching, making calls to every professional service I could think of.
Making notes, taking screen shots, and generally being a pest to anyone who could help in anyway.
And then turning it all in to a cohesive appeal.
I know that, no matter what, I could not have done more.
I fought until I could fight no more.
And now pray it is enough.
Sending so many good wishes that your appeal goes well.

Thanks @NatM70 is the ACE download worth doing at this stage? I have my appeal hearing next week and already submitted my supporting info. Not sure if it is more help at an earlier stage or might still be of use with 5 days to go?!

@SuperSue77 absolutely.
I downloaded it a few days before the hearing.
I also spoke to them a few times, every time I was lucky enough to speak to a person who sits on panels, and each time I was told my case was very strong, which was reassuring (though obviously nothing can be certain!).
And I used it to ensure I'd covered everything I could that relates to my case.
I wish I had downloaded it before the written appeal, as there is a lot of info in there to help with the written appeal.
But none the less, it was a huge benefit to me even though my written appeal was in.
I did send in more written before the deadline, which was added to my case.
Then on the day I just used bullet points of the main reasons.
But as the panel had read so much due to my written appeal, they were able to concentrate on my child and his needs, strengths, etc., so sending in a comprehensive written appeal did not go against me, in fact the panel joked they'd never had such a comprehensive appeal, to which I did apologise (I do not seem to have the ability to condense).
In doing this, the panel were able to focus on the main points and trying to get to know my child as much as possible at the hearing.
Sorry, I'm waffling! The answer is yes, the booklet is worth it.
You'll find things in there you might not have thought of, or might not have thought as important enough. It was one of the best things I did.

Also, @SuperSue77
I didn't receive an important document until the day before the appeal.
I sent it in to the Clerk and said I understand that this is too late to add to the appeal.
However, on the day, the Clerk told me she had sent it to the panel with urgency, and they confirmed they had received and read it.
I honestly couldn't have wished for a more lovely panel.

@NatM70 thank you so much for sharing your experience. That has helped to give me an idea of what to expect. I get very nervous and might email my questions in just to make sure they are responded to. Do the parents get a chance to ask questions in turn or is it whoever raises their hand?

@Itmakesnosense
I totally get that. I suffer with anxiety and had to go to Stage 1 on my own.
I was a bag of nerves for weeks leading up to the hearing.
I was shaking on the day, but I made myself sit alone on the front row. In for a penny and all that!
Most of my questions were emailed in, as until the day itself, I wasn't sure I'd be up to being able to ask them in person.
I did manage to ask a few more questions - I'd made notes to ask on the day if I was feeling brave enough, and put my hand up when I wanted to ask something and made sure I didn't hog the panel to myself.
I spaced out my questions, and when another parent made a very good point, if they didn't follow it up, I did. I was taking notes throughout so I didn't forget anything.
I drew strength from somewhere, I had to, if we don't fight for our children then who will?
I don't know how I did it. I have panic attacks, but the strength of a mother should never be underestimated when she's fighting for her child.

@NatM70 your responses have given me confidence now. These situations drive my anxiety through the roof and l will probably leave there thinking l wish l had also said this and that. I will write everything l want to say, that way l won't forget anything on the day. Goodluck with your appeal result.

@Itmakesnosense
I'm so pleased it has helped you feel better.
Absolutely the same as you, and to be honest, until I know the outcome, I'll not settle.
I have every hope I'll win, but if it is the case I haven't, I will accept it (not much choice!), because I know I couldn't have fought harder than I have.
I came away thinking, 'I forgot to say this, why didn't I say that,' but it is all in the written appeal, and the panel assured me they would read it again.
If you feel you need to add more to your written appeal then send it in.
That way if you forget anything, at least the panel have it.
The panel assured me I had enough evidence too, so I do feel optimistic.
I was told I would hear this Friday - I keep checking my emails hoping for it to arrive sooner! Nothing as yet, but not long now.
Thanks so much, I wish you the same.

@NatM70 does the presenting officer ask the parent questions at Stage 2 or is it just the panel that asks the questions? Just wondering if they do as they are there at stage 2 aren't they? Thanks.

@Itmakesnosense
They didn't ask me any.
He was from the LA, not the school.
They introduced themselves again and ran through a brief summary of why the school had refused my child a place.
They were taking notes throughout the hearing, but only the panel asked me questions.
I'm not sure if they can or do ask, but they didn't at mine.
He didn't really ask anything at Stage one either to be honest.
The panel followed up with some questions to the school after hearing some questions from parents, for clarification. And they asked some of their own.
But it was only the panel who asked the questions in our case.

@NatM70 thank you as always. 😊

@Itmakesnosense
You're very welcome!