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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary school appeal

22 replies

A3897 · 01/04/2025 09:22

I am looking for some advice please - I understand there may be some appeal panel members on here.

So a bit of background. My Daughter has dyslexia but other issues too: she basically is year 6 but working at Y4-5 for everything. Her processing speed is slower. She struggles with understanding maths, spelling is poor, reading comprehension isn't too bad but fluency and speed arent great. She also struggles with emotional processing: she struggles with change, she struggles dealing with emotions and doesn't know how to process them (although not as frequent now she will get a build up and become hysterical and you cannot get her out of these but they only happen at home as its held in at school) . She has always struggled with socialising and friendships. She would always choose to be on her own and watch in. This is only something now that she's achieved since being with the same class since reception and has a friendship group. She will struggle making friends on holiday or speak to a new child at swimming club for example. She just doesnt. She also struggles with busy places, will get worked up if rules are broken and so on.

We have had an assessment by an educational psychologist and speech and language for the emotional processing back in 2022. Since this time we have understood her and managed it ourselves and at school she has been on a myplan and we have had regular catch ups.

We have now been allocated a school where none of her class are going. For context she was moved up swimming groups and took us 4 weeks of trying to get her there but she got so worked up she couldn't go. We tried taking her to watch in on another lesson but didn't help (she's been at this club since after covid so not new, she couldn't process the change, new people, no one she knew other than the teacher etc), we remained calm and encouraged etc but she became ill from getting so worked up.

The school everyone has been allocated was also our first choice. It's not the leading academic school but everything felt right for our daughter. I felt I trusted the head with what he said and the teachers. The school was calm, clear structure, great reputation for SEN (friends have firsthand experience) and ofsted echo the SEN support. Just everything felt right and it was the school she felt comfortable in.

My aim for her secondary education is for her to have a positive experience, be happy and be supported while also being pushed to her own full potential. The school we have been allocated cannot get it right for bright children and children with SEN have no chance (based on word of mouth and ofsted). As A parent I want her to have the best possible chance while also knowing she isn't going to fly out with top grades as this is ok.

The school is local and with her peers going there I feel this may help the transition easier. She may actually go into school. Don't get me wrong I am not wanting it as I want her to be with her friends as many I do not like :-) but I truely believe this will be a game changer as she can move with people she has spent the last 7 years building relationships with (appreciate they may not be in the classes but juat walking in with someone will make the difference). I know we are going to struggle getting her to the school she's been allocated with her not knowing anyone. We have remained quiet with our views and remained positive so she has the best mindset.

Putting in writing for the appeal is so difficult but my reasons are genuine. I am not a pushy parent wanting the best school, my heart and eyes know this is the right one for her for many reasons. I know our reasons need to be why she would be disadvantaged if she didn't attend this school.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated for an appeal please. Thank you

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/04/2025 09:31

Why was she not allocated it and where is she on wl?

Original poster
A3897 · 01/04/2025 09:33

LIZS · 01/04/2025 09:31

Why was she not allocated it and where is she on wl?

Thank you for your reply - Reason was as places were filled prior to getting to us based on distance. We are 18 on the waiting list.

OP posts:
TwentyTwentyFive · 01/04/2025 09:45

How small is the school that she didn't get in on distance but it's local enough that all her peers are going?

If it's large enough I'd assume she'd get a space with being 18th on the waiting list.

Original poster
A3897 · 01/04/2025 09:56

TwentyTwentyFive · 01/04/2025 09:45

How small is the school that she didn't get in on distance but it's local enough that all her peers are going?

If it's large enough I'd assume she'd get a space with being 18th on the waiting list.

So the catchment is a bit strange. They have zone 1, zone 2 and then remaining is left on distance. Zone 2 where her primary school is, is further away than we are (literally wraps around us) but where her peers mainly live. We are located a stones throw from zone 2 boundary so are allocated what is left over after the 2 catchment are allocated. We therefore live upto a mile closer to the school than someone in zone 2!

When speaking to admissions at the council the expectations they set are as the 1st and 2nd round of allocations are now complete it's unlikely there will be much movement now. So I am anticipating we won't get a space on the waiting list which will be held till December

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 09:57

To win an appeal on the basis that your daughter needs to stay with her friends, you need evidence from professionals to support this view. These need to be clear that they are giving their professional opinion, not simply echoing your view.

If you can point to specific SEN provision that is available at the appeal school but not at the allocated school, that will help your case.

Original poster
A3897 · 01/04/2025 10:09

prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 09:57

To win an appeal on the basis that your daughter needs to stay with her friends, you need evidence from professionals to support this view. These need to be clear that they are giving their professional opinion, not simply echoing your view.

If you can point to specific SEN provision that is available at the appeal school but not at the allocated school, that will help your case.

Thank you, I will take a look at how we would be able to get her re-assessed in a short timeframe and write down the comparisons. Appreciate your input thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
A3897 · 01/04/2025 11:22

prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 09:57

To win an appeal on the basis that your daughter needs to stay with her friends, you need evidence from professionals to support this view. These need to be clear that they are giving their professional opinion, not simply echoing your view.

If you can point to specific SEN provision that is available at the appeal school but not at the allocated school, that will help your case.

When you say professionals could this include her teacher and senco or would it have to be someone like an education psychologist?

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 12:11

It could, but evidence from a medical professional is likely to carry more weight.

Original poster
A3897 · 01/04/2025 14:14

prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 12:11

It could, but evidence from a medical professional is likely to carry more weight.

OK thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
A3897 · 05/04/2025 10:05

prh47bridge · 01/04/2025 09:57

To win an appeal on the basis that your daughter needs to stay with her friends, you need evidence from professionals to support this view. These need to be clear that they are giving their professional opinion, not simply echoing your view.

If you can point to specific SEN provision that is available at the appeal school but not at the allocated school, that will help your case.

Sorry to ask another question... I am wondering if this would add any weight to our appeal; the allocated schools ofsted basically saying children struggle to learn and children with SEN are at a greater disadvantage of learning vs the school we are appealing for having great provisions for children falling behind and the SEN provision being commented as really effective etc in their ofsted.

Are ofsted outcomes accepted and replied on if we referenced it given its the formal assessment of the school? There is more in the report but that's a brief summary! Thank you

OP posts:
meeningless · 05/04/2025 10:15

A3897 · 05/04/2025 10:05

Sorry to ask another question... I am wondering if this would add any weight to our appeal; the allocated schools ofsted basically saying children struggle to learn and children with SEN are at a greater disadvantage of learning vs the school we are appealing for having great provisions for children falling behind and the SEN provision being commented as really effective etc in their ofsted.

Are ofsted outcomes accepted and replied on if we referenced it given its the formal assessment of the school? There is more in the report but that's a brief summary! Thank you

Show quote history

@A3897 No, that won't give much weight. If it did, everyone who was allocated a school that requires improvement in one or more category would have solid grounds for appeal to a school that was good in that category. Can you imagine the chaos?

Ofsted reports tell schools what they need to do to improve. If the report was some time ago they may have already improved. You can certainly ask them what they are doing to improve

Original poster
A3897 · 05/04/2025 10:24

meeningless · 05/04/2025 10:15

@A3897 No, that won't give much weight. If it did, everyone who was allocated a school that requires improvement in one or more category would have solid grounds for appeal to a school that was good in that category. Can you imagine the chaos?

Ofsted reports tell schools what they need to do to improve. If the report was some time ago they may have already improved. You can certainly ask them what they are doing to improve

Edited
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Yeah i can imagine with general areas as most schools can improve but wasnt sure if it would make a difference when then are known send issues with the child as ultimately a child would be disadvantaged by not attending the appeal school whereby the allocated schools sen provision is proven to be poor. We have tried contacting the allocated school to have a talk to them but it keeps getting passed to the acting head and we are not getting any reply :-( the head left December so I can imagine he is busy taking on a lot but doesn't fill us with confidence!

OP posts:
meeningless · 05/04/2025 10:42

A3897 · 05/04/2025 10:24

Yeah i can imagine with general areas as most schools can improve but wasnt sure if it would make a difference when then are known send issues with the child as ultimately a child would be disadvantaged by not attending the appeal school whereby the allocated schools sen provision is proven to be poor. We have tried contacting the allocated school to have a talk to them but it keeps getting passed to the acting head and we are not getting any reply :-( the head left December so I can imagine he is busy taking on a lot but doesn't fill us with confidence!

Show quote history

Unfortunately there are huge numbers of children diagnosed or suspected of having SEND issues. Every school has a responsibility to cater for them. Only families with an EHCP can be prioritised for admission.

My school has a good reputation for SEND and therefore a very high rate of SEND, not just from EHCPs, but also from children with SEND from within its catchment. It does not receive any additional money for the latter, and has a solid defence for any appeals on SEND grounds partly because it already has more than its fair share of children with SEND.

Original poster
A3897 · 19/05/2025 16:02

Hi, based on your previous reply I assume you are on a panel, sorry if i have assumed incorrectly. I'm just wondering how many secondary school appeals are heard in a day to try to gauge how many appeals the school have received. Thank you

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 19/05/2025 16:14

If you want to know how many appeals there are, you could just ask the school.

Original poster
A3897 · 19/05/2025 17:20

prh47bridge · 19/05/2025 16:14

If you want to know how many appeals there are, you could just ask the school.

I have and they said the do not disclose that information but they have 3 full days of appeals

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 19/05/2025 17:59

A3897 · 19/05/2025 17:20

I have and they said the do not disclose that information but they have 3 full days of appeals

Show quote history

Odd thing for them to refuse to disclose. They would have to answer the question if you made an FOI request.

Original poster
A3897 · 19/05/2025 18:33

prh47bridge · 19/05/2025 17:59

Odd thing for them to refuse to disclose. They would have to answer the question if you made an FOI request.

Show quote history

Yes that's true. All they have confirmed is they have had double the amount of appeals this year and had to book the panel for an extra day to accommodate this. The extra day is over the 40 school day period that is stated but they have said this is OK. Ah well I guess it ultimately doesn't matter so we will see

OP posts:
meeningless · 19/05/2025 19:06

A3897 · 19/05/2025 16:02

Hi, based on your previous reply I assume you are on a panel, sorry if i have assumed incorrectly. I'm just wondering how many secondary school appeals are heard in a day to try to gauge how many appeals the school have received. Thank you

I've done 12 over 2 days, and 16 over 3 days, so I'd guess it's about 6 a day. The service provider here usually schedules the first morning 10-12 for the Group Hearing, then Individual Hearings are 45 minutes apart (but sometimes over-run), with a 1 hour break for lunch. They also need at least a couple of hours for the Decision Meeting on the last day.

PatriciaHolm · 19/05/2025 19:20

my multi day secondary panels tend to be 6-7 a day.

Original poster
A3897 · 19/05/2025 19:58

meeningless · 19/05/2025 19:06

I've done 12 over 2 days, and 16 over 3 days, so I'd guess it's about 6 a day. The service provider here usually schedules the first morning 10-12 for the Group Hearing, then Individual Hearings are 45 minutes apart (but sometimes over-run), with a 1 hour break for lunch. They also need at least a couple of hours for the Decision Meeting on the last day.

Show quote history

Thank you for sharing your experience with this. It's a lot more than I had expected but I am.also not surprised

OP posts:
Original poster
A3897 · 19/05/2025 19:58

PatriciaHolm · 19/05/2025 19:20

my multi day secondary panels tend to be 6-7 a day.

Thank you so much

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