School Appeal

[AmyW1992]

Hi just wondering if anyone has any information/guidance
my child didn’t get his chosen senior school (we did only put one preference )

Ive had appeal today Ive found out I didn’t win ! Grounds for not been allocated a place is we don’t fall under the parish . Yes we did have to move homes , we are still under a mile away from secondary school , he still attends the feeder school and was still christened in the parish and still attends the parish church .

Hes registered on the learning disability register due to his anxiety (this was after school application due to long process ) he was diagnosed with anxiety in 2021 (lockdown ) he sees a councillor once a week in school . Provided all evidence of this , I’m also a single mum of 2 children , as well as working myself I’m also a registered carer for my dad . Panel was aware of all this and all evidence supplied . I did advise of course I would have to give up work and caring for my father , which would put us into financially difficulty .

he is number 8 on waitlist for his chosen school . Which is catholic schoool

the school he was allocated was none faith (we are catholic ) and quite frankly the ofsted and local knowledge of this school is awful . What are my next options thankyou in advance .

Wete you appealing on the grounds that his anxiety means he cannot travel independently and did you have evidence of this? As the normal expectation is that a Yr7 will be travelling alone.

Although saying that, a council isn't actually obliged to put infant aged children in the same school and the logistics ate up to the parent to support.

HEy @AmyW1992 I am genuinely surprised that high anxiety levels is classed as a learning disability (not difficulty?). If he has LD then it should be possible to get him an ehcp which would name the school. I would imagine a bit late for this Sept tho.

You talk about needing to get both DC to school - but the vast vast majority of secondary-age DC get themselves to school by foot, bus, bike. So thats not something the appeal panel can consider.

How far away is the allocated school? What other schools might be acceptable?

I would suggest you:
Start the process for an ehcp
See what other schools have spaces
Go on as many WLs as you can find
List more than one school when you apply for your younger child!

But what are the admissions criteria for the school?
Criteria are applied in order and usually include EHCP and looked after kids, possibly faith, in catchment siblings, kids in catchment, siblings out of catchment and then everyone else.
Your issues with the logistics of getting your youngest to school are completely irrelevant here.
Feeder schools are not very often a thing any more.
If you are a regular mass attender and have a letter from your priest to prove it then that might make a difference. Most catholic schools have faith as a criteria but you have to prove attendance at church. Just being baptised may not be good enough.

The point of an appeal is to see if the school/ la have made a mistake in applying the admissions code as well as identifying an overwhelming need for your DC to go to the school.

Unfortunately if you've failed the appeal then neither of these criteria have been met.

Stay on the waiting list, add yourself to the waiting list of other schools and also make your peace with the school you have been allocated in case these other options fail.

Where do the Catholic children who live in your parish go? Can he not go there?

OK first thing, don’t panic- 8th on the waiting list is a good chance. Not 100% you’ll get a place for September but possible.

next - the school you have been allocated, have you visited it? Accept that place so you have something for September, you can still be on the waiting list. If you have any other schools available locally that would be a better fit than the one you’ve been allocated (distance, ethos etc) go on their waiting list too, you can be on more than one waiting list.

You are unlikely to be able to force a place at your preferred school, feeder schools aren’t really a factor anymore in place offers, so it wouldn’t put you higher than someone else who lives closer who went to a different school.

try to get plan B sorted and hopefully 8 children will drop out of your plan A school.

Good question.