School appeal rejection number 4

[Wearyandtired]

Hi can I please ask with help on two different subjects regarding school appeals
a: have received clerks letter of rejection, after 4 weeks,and having to request it.
It seems very vague compared to other letters received, with very little on exact reasons on rejection, can I ask for more detailed notes from the clerk?
b: if the rejection was based on prejudice on school being over PAN and the effects this would have on teaching, class size etc, but the LA had just weeks before admitted 2 new pupils, before our appeal, could we argue this information?
( The school has increased PAN from 168 to 180, now stands at 178)
Surely this reasoning now adds less weight to prejudice of efficient use of resources and education. How can one child effect this when they just allowed two children in.
Please be kind in your replies, I am very fragile at the moment, I don't want to come across needy, but am trying to navigate this on my own. Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks.

"but the LA had just weeks before admitted 2 new pupils"

I assume they were admitted legitimately from the the top of the waiting list because 2 spaces were freed up at that time.

On the day of your appeal, the school was full.

Unless you know that the two students who were admitted were lower than you on the waiting list, I don't see the issue.

The school had extended the PAN to 180 from 168, because of cohort intake was so large. On the day of our appeal it was at 178. The school wish to get PAN back to original 168, so technically there were no freed up spaces.
The two places given were transferred from other schools, not the waiting list.

I am just trying to understand the prejudice of resources and overcrowding if its possible to allow two places, then why not three. We were the only appeal for a year 8 mid term. Is it something I could question with the LA?
You may say it's to late now as the panels decision is final.

Schools do this because overcrowded year groups have a knock on effect on things like setting and the timetable over time. It really does create massive problems.

We had one group last year of 33 kids. There wasn’t a classroom big enough for them so I had one floater who volunteered not to have a permanent seat and just squish in where there was space. Hardly ideal.

One extra child could push out class sizes in one half of the year group so there are huge rooming issues or, later on, massive timetabling problems for options.

You may say it's to late now as the panels decision is final.

Exactly this @Wearyandtired . The panel decided your case didn't outweigh the school's case, and their decision is final.

PAN is agreed 18 months in advance. They may have admitted a bulge year, but they haven't increased PAN.

It's likely that the cohort were in 5 form groups - now increased to 6 of 30 and needing an additional form tutor, completely new academic schedule for timetabling, additional teachers, TAs, lunch facilities, classroom facilities for practical subjects - classes are generally built around 30 students maximum.

The latest admissions may have been directions from the local authority or late EHCP admissions.

You can apply again in September.

The two places given were transferred from other schools, not the waiting list.

They still would have been on the waiting list, wouldn't they?

Mid year transfers can be for reasons like children in the care system, military families, safeguarding reasons etc where pan is not applicable usually. Your child has a place elsewhere I'm guessing so they don't need to exceed the pan to accommodate

Not necessarily if directed by the LA via Fair Access Panel or EHCP.

They wouldn’t have been in 5 form groups looking at those numbers. I’d guess 6 classes of 28, which was increased by 12 to make 6 classes of 30.

Strange. Could have sworn I've just sent the timetable over from Nova with 33/4 in class. I must have been imagining it.

Yes rightly so, one was fair access protocol ( bullying ) the other was transfer from a private school.( not sure on details )

I know the panels decision is final, this is our fourth appeal, still find it difficult to navigate though.
Thank you all for responding.

NeverDropYourMooncup unfortunately we can't apply in September, this appeal was for mid year 8, to start in September.
Would have to wait till next May, unless we have a worsening change in circumstances.

Not necessarily, managed moves, SEN, Foster kids, siblings in school already etc all get priority