Secondary school appeal - extra-curricular success stories please!

[Greenfingers1980]

I've been reading countless threads on here about secondary school appeals and have picked up lots of good advice from regular posters. Now my appeal is approaching for my DC, I'd like to ask a few questions that I hope others with more experience may be able to answer.

I understand that it's ok to flag an extra-curricular offering or an academic subject that the first choice school offers and the allocated school does not, but has anyone ever won an appeal on this as their main argument? Both of these apply to my DC but I'm not sure if it is enough on its own. I am also flagging journey to school but it's not a strong argument (first choice school is 1 mile walk through a familiar neighbourhood with friends whereas allocated school is 2 mile wak through unfamiliar territory with no friends to walk with) as well as parental support network which would be strong for our first choice school. As in, plenty of DC friends live near the first choice school and he is always welcome at their homes if I have a clash with school runs/after school activities for my two younger DCs.

Do I need a reality check that I even have a hope of success?

The extra-curricular area the first choice school excels at is Music. They have countless choirs/ensembles and offer lessons in every instrument you could think of. They also offer Music GCSE. The allocated school offers none of the above and my DC has been learning instruments for 3.5 years and it plays a huge part in boosting his confidence/wellbeing/enjoyment of and engagement in school.

Apologies if I am being a bit dense here, but isn't that just a fantastic (and unusual) offer that actually most parents would want to be available for their child, which is what has made the school popular and therefore created the position that everyone who wants a place there is not going to get one?

I can't see how it is an argument that your dc should have been given a place at a school that was full before it got to him (and the 20 ahead of him on the waiting list).
Someone else could even put forward an argument to the effects of the fact that he already has the opportunity to learn instruments means he doesn't need the place at the musical school as much as another child who hasn't had that opportunity.

Aren't appeals for when the LA has made a mistake?

No, once past KS1 appeals aren’t just for when the admissions authority has made a mistake.

I know someone who appealed (and won) on the basis of the extracurricular music. The school they were appealing for is award-winning in a particular genre of music. The DC already belonged to community music groups in this same genre but whereas the allocated school didn't offer this genre at all, the appeal school offered a huge development programme specifically for that genre.

I don't recall whether or not the allocated school offered GCSE music.

No, appeals are not just for when there has been a mistake. That limitation only applies to appeals where infant class size rules apply (i.e. most, but not all, appeals for KS1).

Appeals for secondary schools are mostly about whether the disadvantage to a child from not being admitted outweighs the problems the school will face if it has to cope with an additional pupil. In essence, it is about dealing with situations that aren't covered by the school's admission criteria.

Yes, many parents may want their child to have access to the musical provision at this school. The appeal panel will be looking for evidence that OP's child is musically talented and is pursuing musical activities. That is why I and the other experts keep saying that you must show that provision at the appeal school that is missing from the allocated school must be particularly relevant to your child. "I want my child to study German and the allocated school doesn't offer it" is a weak argument. "My child has German relatives, is already learning German and wants to pursue this further" is a stronger argument.

“Apologies if I am being a bit dense here, but isn't that just a fantastic (and unusual) offer that actually most parents would want to be available for their child, which is what has made the school popular and therefore created the position that everyone who wants a place there is not going to get one?

I can't see how it is an argument that your dc should have been given a place at a school that was full before it got to him (and the 20 ahead of him on the waiting list).

Someone else could even put forward an argument to the effects of the fact that he already has the opportunity to learn instruments means he doesn't need the place at the musical school as much as another child who hasn't had that opportunity.”

Exactly. That’s why I’m surprised so-called appeals experts on here are encouraging the op so much in this area. Extracurricular activities, and parents demanding rights to them, don’t have much truck with the appeal panels I work with…

Parents demanding rights to particular extracurricular activities don't carry any weight. However, if parents can show that their child has a particular interest/talent and that the school has relevant extracurricular activities, that is very relevant and should carry some weight as it shows that the child will be prejudiced (disadvantaged) if they aren't admitted. If the appeal panels you work with don't give any weight at all to such arguments (and, unless you are a clerk, I'm not sure how you would know that), they need retraining. It isn't as strong a case as medical needs, safeguarding issues or mistakes, but it is a case that should have a chance of winning depending on the strength of the school's case.

Since you seem to be challenging my expertise, I will point out that I am an expert in the law around admissions and have been helping parents win appeals for over 15 years, with considerable success.

I have a young relative who was interested in Music and playing instruments before going to secondary school. Fortunately, the school allocated for secondary has a strong Music department.
He has had so much enjoyment and benefitted greatly from being at that school. The school puts on concerts, with children playing and singing all types of music, classical and jazz. It gives them confidence and gives them friendships throughout the school. Many (most?) pupils at the school are not at all interested in Music and certainly didn't chose the school because of its music provision, they have other activities there.
The school offers Music Gcse and A level.
I can quite see why it is important to the OP that her child goes to a school that has an interest in Music. Does the allocated school have Music lessons at all in the timetable?
Best of luck with the appeal

I can only echo what prh47bridge has said.

To the extent that we are encouraging the OP to argue on the grounds of music provision, it’s because this argument might fly at appeal. As we have also pointed out, the panel has to weigh both sides of the appeal and so much will depend on the strength or not of the school’s case for not admitting. Nobody is suggesting that it’s a certain win.

My credentials here are that I’ve been on appeal panels for two decades. I confess I am losing patience with posters coming onto appeal threads to pontificate about what will or won’t succeed at appeal, when they have evidently never been anywhere near the admissions or appeals codes and have no understanding of them.

Thank you @PanelChair, @prh47bridge and @Lougle for taking the time to share your expertise - it is greatly appreciated. Music-making has been central to my DC's confidence and wellbeing at junior school which, along with seeking the opportunity to further develop his musical skills, is why I'm appealing for the chosen school. I strongly believe that a school that puts a high value in music-making and encourages students to take part will be the best place for my DC to thrive.

"3.8 The panel must balance the prejudice to the school against the appellant’s case for the child to be admitted to the school. It must take into account the appellant’s reasons for expressing a preference for the school, including what that school can offer the child that the allocated or other schools cannot. If the panel considers that the appellant’s case outweighs the prejudice to the school, it must uphold the appeal.

3.9 In multiple appeals, the panel must not compare the individual cases when deciding whether an appellant’s case outweighs the prejudice to the school. However, where the panel finds there are more cases which outweigh prejudice than the school can admit, it must then compare the cases and uphold those with the strongest case for admission. Where a certain number of children could be admitted without causing prejudice, the panel must uphold the appeals of at least that number of children."
Admissions appeal code.

The OP's argument that her DS is musical, the school excels at music, and he should be allowed to study there is a specific grounds for appeal in the code (what that school can offer the child that the allocated or other schools cannot). The OP's argument would only win her DS a place there if a) the school was not so full as to prejudice the efficient education of other children and b) in the event that the school can take a number of children, her DS has one of the strongest arguments.

I'd expect a compelling medical ground such as "my child uses a wheelchair and this is the only school with level access to all areas" to trump "my child enjoys music". However, each case is unique. "My child was very close to expulsion with very poor attendance but then discovered a love for music and is now a full attender with exemplary behaviour" would be a pretty compelling argument for admitting on the basis of music at school.

If you don’t mind me asking ..how was your appeal?

@Lurea it's not for a couple of weeks - will update

Ok mine is on Friday a and I am appealing on similar reasons

Please let us know how it goes!

@Greenfingers1980 how did your appeal go?

Sadly our appeal was unsuccessful

@Greenfingers1980 sorry to hear that. Hope your DC has a good school. Seems appeals have been so difficult to win this year.