High school appeal

[Lorr1911]

My son didn’t get into either of the high schools I applied for, I lodged an appeal for each, I had one appeal today so am yet to find out the outcome. I have just received the date for the second one and it is the same presenting clerk and the same chairperson. The presenting clerk I know is independent but if the chairperson doesn’t grant my appeal for the first school then I have already lost before the second appeal hearing. Can I request for a different chairperson?

They are also independent and it is a different school, so 50% a different balance of prejudice of admitting another pupil, even if your argument is the same. The prejudice of admitting another pupil at one school is not the same as another. They are not saying your reasons are not valid, even if they refuse, but the balance is not sufficient and each school for each year have a different prejudice to balance, e.g., one year may have a high number of sen pupils regardless of if your child has sen or top of the class, the extra person may be too much on balance for the school.

both Schools have the same arguement oversubscribed. My first appeal was declined so feel I’ve already lost the second one with same chairperson and the panel didn’t ask the school any questions

But as the PP explained, the people appealing for the 2nd school won't be the same as those appealing for the first. So your argument may not have been as strong as some others' for the 1st school, when weighed up against the others appealing for it.

However, for the 2nd school, your appeal may be the strongest. Depends who else is appealing and the merits of your case vs theirs I'd imagine.

In terms of requesting a different Chair,I don't think there's any harm in asking the LA the question. But someone more knowledgeable than me will be along with the answer to it soon enough, I'm sure.

Did you ask the school any questions yourself?

@Dacadactyl yes I did

Have you had any advice from any of the very knowledgeable admissions experts on this board? They might be advise how to tailor your appeal to the 2nd school yo increase your chance of success.

Doesn't work like that. They deal with the appeal they have in front of them, not a hitlist of people they've already said No to.

The chair is independent of the school, and should have no connection with it . .There are at least 3 people on the panel,and it is a majority decision.

The chair, and the other members of the panel, are independent too. It makes no difference that one has seen you already. It happens sometimes.

The case for the second school will be different - the case for every school is that it is oversubscribed, but the case it presents to prove that will be different. It may be weaker or stronger than the first school.

Your case will presumably also be different, as you are appealing for a school, not against one.

Can you give an idea of your case? If it's very weak you're more likely to have your appeal refused, so we may be able to help.

My son has adhd I’m not disputing that cant be handled by any school but also social communication difficulties and severe anxiety and separation anxiety. He goes to primary school out the borough I live in and the two schools I applied for are local to his primary school.His only support network is his friends, he has no friends in our area as he finds it very difficult to make them. He has no family or support network other than myself. The school I’m applying for his older sister went to and just left last year she got in there on social reasons as her father died and I didn’t even name a school.He is finally settled on the right medication after always being in trouble at school and fighting and has been doing really well but is now reverting back to old ways of anger and frustration due to the fear of the unknown and not being able to stay in the support network of his friends he’s made since being in reception.The school he is down for is local to where I live he said he’s not going to go and I fear I won’t be able to get him to school his mental health is deteriorating and he can’t sleep at night anymore even though medicated at bedtime. I feel he is a ticking time bomb

Have you got any medical evidence supporting your case? To be honest, friendship groups is quite a weak case without that.

Have you looked at all the features of the appeal school Vs offered school? That might help to strengthen your case.

As Lougle says, friendship issues are rarely enough to win an appeal unless there is evidence from (say) a psychologist to say that, in their professional opinion, the child needs to remain with their friends from primary school for their well-being. Otherwise, the panel may conclude that all secondary schools can help children with transition and making new friends.

The chair’s role at any appeal is to ensure that the hearing is fair. As someone has said, they don’t have a hit list. When a parent is appealing for more than one school, the appeals are separate and independent. The school’s case will be different in each appeal and so too will the parent’s, because they all depend on the circumstances at the school and what that school can offer the child. The panel will make a decision accordingly.

Yes I provided medical evidence from anxiety counsellor at cahms , psychologist and Padeatrician and his current primary school.

Did they say that in their opinion only school X will do? It's a bit confusing that you could have used that evidence for two schools, unless the friendship group is splitting in two.

Do you know where you are on the waiting list for each school?

They have named the schools separately on their evidence for each one. The primary school is situated in between the two high schools so pretty much is split .
im 33 on the waiting list for one and 212 on the other. The appeal panel didn’t ask me any questions or the presenting officer of the school

I won my appeal so happy

Congratulations!