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Secondary education

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

Sixth form appeal help

29 replies

user10110 · 14/10/2023 15:37

I am appealing for a place at a selective school sixth form and I have a few questions.

I didn't meet the requirements however they've let in students in the past who also didn't meet the requirements which feels unfair. How do I get this point across to the panel?

Is it wrong for me to question their entry requirements? For example, to study 1 science subject, you need a minimum grade 6 in maths, but to study 2 science subjects or more, you need a minimum of a grade 7.

Are they allowed to ask for information on the application that is in no way mentioned in the admissions policy? This concerns me because although it wasn't stated to have importance, they're still asking if you have any siblings.

Does the sixth form have to follow the admissions code 2021 entirely?

Do medical grounds require proof from a doctor, or is a diagnosis and recent tests enough?

I read that it's worth including many small reasons as well, I have a few, including that they specialise in my subjects, which were the ones I did best in. They also offer uni entrance exam prep, and I'm not sure why, but these points seem weak. Should I still include them?

Is it okay for me to contrast the appealed sixth form to the current one?

The year with their highest number of students is also the year they were inspected by Ofsted, and it didn't mention any issues with overcrowding. So is it right for me to assume there were no issues, and if there was, it wasn't that big a problem? And the same for this year as the number of students is lower?

Should I include the schools PAN data in the letter or use it in the hearing? Does this information about PAN and everything else need to be evidenced or at least given a source?

The school didn't inform me of my rejection, which meant I wasn't given a reason or information to appeal. From what I understand, this should have been given?

Instead, they included this information as a small section at the bottom of the admissions policy. It also implies that the appeal should be written as a letter. I feel that this is to prevent and discourage students and parents from appealing. How do I get this point across to the panel members?

Because of this, I'm considering including absolutely everything in this appeal letter, maybe they would rather give me a place than organise a hearing.

Thank you very much for reading this lengthy thread, and I appreciate any advice that you can give.

OP posts:
StarlightLime · 15/10/2023 17:07

I think winning this appeal would benefit a lot of people on MN as there aren't many sixth form appeal threads on here
??

StarlightLime · 15/10/2023 17:09

user10110 · 15/10/2023 13:21

I just read on their website that they are a sixth form school. That's a relief,I was stressed. I think I was right about their partner schools and academy trust.

Now that this issue has been resolved, I would appreciate any advice in regards to my questions posted above. I think winning this appeal would benefit a lot of people on MN as there aren't many sixth form appeal threads on here.

Does it say explicitly that it's a school, not a college? That sounds quite odd.

YellowDots · 15/10/2023 17:16

My knowledge only comes from doing my own appeal.

I didn't meet the requirements however they've let in students in the past who also didn't meet the requirements which feels unfair. How do I get this point across to the panel?
Just by writing in your statement. How do you know this though?
*
Is it wrong for me to question their entry requirements? For example, to study 1 science subject, you need a minimum grade 6 in maths, but to study 2 science subjects or more, you need a minimum of a grade 7.*
I don't think it's wrong to question it. No doubt they have a reason for this so at least you will find out.
*
Are they allowed to ask for information on the application that is in no way mentioned in the admissions policy? This concerns me because although it wasn't stated to have importance, they're still asking if you have any siblings.*
At my DD's appeal, I was asked about siblings. I just answered the questions.
*
Does the sixth form have to follow the admissions code 2021 entirely?*
I don't know.
*
Do medical grounds require proof from a doctor, or is a diagnosis and recent tests enough?* You have to have evidence. What sort of recent tests? What form is the diagnosis? For example is it in a letter from a hospital?

MarchingFrogs · 15/10/2023 18:13

StarlightLime · 15/10/2023 17:09

Does it say explicitly that it's a school, not a college? That sounds quite odd.

Possibly think e.g.King's Maths School in South London, which is a (specialist) standalone sixth form.

As an example, the former spells out clearly that it is formally a 16-19 Academy, and as such, is exempt from both the Admissions Code and the Appeals Code. It still has to have a clear Admissions policy, but in the first instance it only allows appeals against the non-adherence to the policy resulting in no offer being made, not 'prejudice' appeals. So Infant Class Size type proceedings without the, Okay, bung your paperwork in anyway and we'll go through the motions even if you can't think of how your case meets the criteria that the legislation around appeals for a 4 - 16 / 19 school allows.

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