Offered school we didn’t choose -what can we do?

[Supamum3]

Just as the title said really. We didn’t receive an offer for any schools we chose but were offered a different school that is local but are rated poorly - hence why we did not chose them.

My son has SEN and the schools we chose carefully had good provisions, can we use this as an appeal?

Not sure what to do now, any advice is appreciated.

Get on the waiting lists for the schools you did choose.

If you appeal, you have to show that the detriment to your son of not being offered a place at a chosen school, is greater than the detriment to the school of taking a pupil over number.

It will probably be said that all schools have SEND provision. Is there anything else that the school you wanted offers, that isn’t available at the offered school.

Even though you don’t want the offered school, you should accept the offer, because if you decline, there is no further responsibility to give you a school place.

You can contact the schools and ask to be added to waiting lists.

You can apply for waiting lists for other schools.

You can appeal for the school you want. Remember that you should explain why the school you want is better for your child rather than what is wrong with the school allocated. You need to demonstrate that the disadvantage to the school of taking an extra child is outweighed by the benefit to the child.

there are lots of experts who will help to guide you, including prh47bridge who helped me

Do your preferred schools have a priority category for children with a social or medical need, or similar? Did you include that on your application? Does your child have an EHCP?

You can definitely appeal on the basis of your child’s need. Detailing what facilities and specific support or expertise those schools have that are not present in the offered school.

’not being a good school’ is not basis for appeal .

Thanks all for the responses. No he doesn’t have an EHCP at present we have just started the process of applying.

Please can you explain this more? @Bluevelvetsofa “the detriment to your son of not being offered a place at a chosen school, is greater than the detriment to the school of taking a pupil over number.”
I know others have also said something around this but I don’t really understand.

Do I need to find evidence that the school offered is not suitable for my child?

thanks so much, I’m stressing about this. I had no idea we’d be in this position.

You're not appealing against your offer school, you're appealing for the school you want.

Preferred school will say they have 100 places, they've filled them all and admitting an extra child will cause x y z problems (eg no space, classrooms too small)
You have to say your child needs this school because of a b c, so the detriment to him of not getting the place is greater than the detriment to the school of having a slightly more crowded classroom - for example, only this school offers violin lessons, your son plays the violin and has his heart set on a career in it.

You have to prove that your son would be disadvantaged by not being offered a place at the school you want and that such a disadvantage would be more than the disadvantage to the school of taking a pupil over numbers.

Having SEND isn’t in itself a reason, because all the schools will have a SEND department and will be expected to make provision for pupils who have additional needs. I’m assuming he doesn’t have an EHCP though.

Ok I understand. Thanks for breaking that down for me.

I have to come up with the reasons why my child needs his education at this specific school so they can consider allowing him to join. I’m not sure how I can convincingly do that surely, wouldn’t every parent have the same appeal.

Is it worth contacting each of our chosen schools to make sure we are on the waiting list via email or phone call?

Do I appeal to each of the schools? And when should I do this?

sorry for all the questions, I am so grateful for the help

Do I appeal to each of the schools? And when should I do this?

Yes to the first, because your appeal is for a school you have been refused, not a blanket appeal against the school you were allocated, you must submit a separate appeal to each one. The school's website will have information about how to do this. Even if you do see the same panel members at more than one hearing, btw, the appeals for each really are considered completely separately - these people are trained, but volunteers and there are only so many to go round.

Under the School Admission Appeals Code, you have to be given at least 20 school days to submit your appeal, and the LA / school will stipulate a date which reflects this. It will be termed a 'deadline'; you can still appeal later, but there will be no guarantee that your appeal will be heard by the end of the summer term in that case. So the deadline won't be before March 29th, and may be a little later.

Well why did you choose the schools you did? What do they have/do that your offered school doesn't?