State comprehensive schools waiting list movement

[Deemumb]

Hi everyone, had anyone successfully appealed a local authority faith based school in year application where the child is number 1 on the waiting list but they are over PAN in year 7 and 8 by 5?

There might be several reasons why they are over PAN, none of which would increase your chances of winning an appeal, e.g.

• They might have felt they had room for 5 more students, so asked the LA to admit them.
• There might have been mandatory additional admissions due to successful appeals, fair access protocol, or the SEND process.

As they are 5 over, their case for having no more space is likely to be very strong. If so, your case would need to be even stronger.

What is your case based on?

@RomanWall change in my circumstances, I was going through divorce when I turned the school down (they had given my child a space last year) wanted my child to have support at school so I took our child to an independent school (a joint decision prior to the divorce).

So why the change now?

My child is much better now and stronger. They've had counselling plus my divorce concluded recently of which there is a massive shift in my financial status.

Ok, so why does your child need this particular school rather than any other school, and why is the need so great as to override the school's case for being full (assuming they successfully make that case)?

I was in a similar position (oversubscribed faith school, no1 on lost due to change of circumstances) and had submitted my appeal but a space came up a week into term.

The school could be over PAN due to late EHCP applications (this was the case for us) or successful appeals.

You may as well appeal but it will be tough. Get a letter from your religious leader (priest/vicar etc) saying why this school is the best fit for your child. And any other reasons - make sure you have evidence in the form of letters or other documentation.

Unfortunately, if they are 5 over PAN then you may have to wait for 6 children to leave before you are offered a space (assuming you are still top of waiting list then)

Your LA does have to offer your child a place somewhere though - do any other local schools have space?

@Rhayader thank you very much for this.

@SecretToryVoter yes there are a couple schools with spaces. One of them the review is extremely bad and parents have been withdrawing their children. Heard a child brought knife to school in definitely don't want him going there. I might possibly look into what home schooling entails until I find a space at a good school. I'm just a bit confused at the moment.

For an appeal to be successful, you need to convince the panel that your child's need for a place outweighs the detriment to the school of admitting another student.

You could politely ask the school's admissions officer now, by email, why they are 5 over PAN. It may just be that they felt able to increase their class sizes to help balance their budget, and therefore asked the LA to admit 5 more. If so, then it is a planned increase in capacity, and therefore if one child leaves they should admit another from the waiting list.