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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

School appeal help!

21 replies

emalou628 · 25/06/2023 17:25

Looking for advice ASAP please 🙏
I have got an appeal for my sons secondary school place on Wednesday and I just want some last minute advice and to know wether I even stand a chance.

He is the only child in his year 6 class that has been given his allocated school and knows nobody that is going there. The allocated school is also allot further away that the school we preferred but I know that none of these points will help me win my appeal. However, my son since starting school has attended a music Federation school and from year 2 had been learning to play trumpet in weekly lessons. The teacher that has taught him throughout prinary teaches at the high school we are appealing for and the school also has an orchestra club as an extra ciriculam activity where as the allocated school does not. Will this point help with my appeal and is this what I should bas my statement around to have the best chance.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

OP posts:
Lougle · 25/06/2023 17:27

As you say, the distance to school won't help and being the only child allocated to the school from his class will also not help.

The music may help. I don't think the teacher teaching at the school will help, but the offering of music lessons and extra curriculars may.

Original poster
emalou628 · 25/06/2023 17:29

When I mentioned the teacher I just thought that the fact that the trumpet teacher already knows my son and what his limitations and strengths are and where he already is with his learning would be a good point to make. Do you not think this would matter ?

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 25/06/2023 17:34

Teachers move though - it's a point, but not a strong one. Will he carry on learning trumpet outside of school as well?

The orchestra is again a relevant point, but not strong either. The panel may think that given he already attends a music school outside, his need for orchestra in school as well is weak.

Do you have the school's case?

Lougle · 25/06/2023 17:37

emalou628 · 25/06/2023 17:29

When I mentioned the teacher I just thought that the fact that the trumpet teacher already knows my son and what his limitations and strengths are and where he already is with his learning would be a good point to make. Do you not think this would matter ?

No, I don't. That teacher could be leaving and you wouldn't necessarily know. The teacher can't be relied upon to be teaching your child.

Original poster
emalou628 · 25/06/2023 17:39

I do have the schools case there argument is that they can go over PAN however from the information they have provided I can see that if they accept only their allocated PAN this year once year 11s have left this year they will have 8 less children on roll than they did last year and that they have also gone over their PAN slightly in every year group is this a question I should ask when the school make their case ?

My son doesn't attend a music school outside of school his primary school is a music federation school so he has always learnt during school time. He would live to do it outside of school but I'll be honest it's not somthing we can afford and this is why I would love for him to be able to carry on learning in high school.

OP posts:
Lougle · 25/06/2023 17:48

It won't help your case that they will have 8 less on the school roll than last year after this year's year 11s have left, in the sense that you can't say they should take more than their PAN without challenge. The PAN is set and if they are up to PAN they are 'full'. However, it helps in the sense that they are proven to be able to cope with 8 more than the number that will be on roll in September. You could ask if they've had any incidents/accidents due to overcrowding.

Original poster
emalou628 · 25/06/2023 17:50

Lougle · 25/06/2023 17:48

It won't help your case that they will have 8 less on the school roll than last year after this year's year 11s have left, in the sense that you can't say they should take more than their PAN without challenge. The PAN is set and if they are up to PAN they are 'full'. However, it helps in the sense that they are proven to be able to cope with 8 more than the number that will be on roll in September. You could ask if they've had any incidents/accidents due to overcrowding.

That's a great question thank you ! I will definitely ask that.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 25/06/2023 17:59

I would also ask how they have organised and coped with more than PAN in other years - if they can have 1 or 2 over a tutor group in Year 8, for example, suggest that they can in Year 7.

Original poster
emalou628 · 25/06/2023 18:04

PatriciaHolm · 25/06/2023 17:59

I would also ask how they have organised and coped with more than PAN in other years - if they can have 1 or 2 over a tutor group in Year 8, for example, suggest that they can in Year 7.

That's also great thank you! I think I am in a grouped session for the schools part, will I still be given the chance to ask these questions

OP posts:
Lougle · 25/06/2023 18:08

Yes, but bear in mind that if your questions do establish that they could take, say, 3 more children, it doesn't follow that your child gets one of the places. So you need to make your case as strong as possible, in order that if they do decide that the school can take extra children, your DS is one of them. For that reason, I really wouldn't just argue for the music at your preferred school.

Original poster
emalou628 · 25/06/2023 18:15

I'm not sure what else I can use, I have lots of reasons for wanting it but I know none of them hold any weight both my self and my husband worm for the NHS I work on intensive care so we work long days my children are cared for allot by their auntie when we are at work and although he doesn't have a sibling in the school he would travel home with his cousin who does attend the school we want. Although his allocated school is 20 minutes from home its 35 minutes from my place of work. He's also borderline dyspraxic and struggle with certain thing but I have no evidence of this because he was one point short of a diagnosis and I know most schools can deal with this so I can't use that either. Would you recommend that I still mention all of these things or not?

OP posts:
Lougle · 25/06/2023 19:29

No, none of that will help. But you can look at all the things that preferred school offers that the allocated one doesn't and use that information.

clary · 25/06/2023 20:49

Agtee with others, what else does the allocated school offer? Language he has studied in primary, science club when you have evidence of his interest, sports teams for a sport where he has shown a talent?

I would be surprised btw if music lessons from the peripatetic teacher would be free at secondary; mostly you have to pay for these as you would for lessons outside school. Or is the school part of the same scheme abd offers the free lessons like your dc's primary? If so this would be a valid point to make I would think.

clary · 25/06/2023 20:49

Sorry I meant obvs what else does the appealed-for schol offer

Original poster
emalou628 · 27/06/2023 16:54

So our appeal has been cancelled for the second time. Was fully prepared both mentally and physically and to receive an email saying it was cancelled with no reson has really annoyed me this process is stressful enough 😔

OP posts:
Lougle · 28/06/2023 13:00

That is awful. Can you ask when they are rescheduling for?

Original poster
emalou628 · 28/06/2023 16:02

I've rang today and was just told they will let me know my appeal should of been this morning and they cancelled at 4pm yesterday

OP posts:
Original poster
emalou628 · 19/07/2023 17:02

Just a quick update to say today I found out I won my appeal thank you all so much for your help!!

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 19/07/2023 17:07

Great, well done!

Lougle · 19/07/2023 17:08

Congratulations!

Itmakesnosense · 19/07/2023 19:02

@emalou628 congratulations !! That must have been a huge relief considering that you have had to wait so long for the outcome due to meeting being moved.

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