Ripon Grammar appeal

[Sheba32]

Hi, this is my first time on this forum. I live overseas but am returning to UK with the family in August. My son did well in the tests for the Ripon Grammar School recently but we will have to appeal for a place (for Yr 8 in September) because it is full. I am having difficult job getting information on the number of pupils in each year group, when the PAN was set etc. to help with our appeal. Does anyone have any information or experience that might help us? Thanks.

The LA (local authority) should answer all your questions. They are required to provide you with all the information you reasonably request for the appeal.

The appeal will consist of two parts. In the first part the LA will argue that the school will be prejudiced if your son is admitted. You can then ask the LA's representative some questions. If the school is operating below its net capacity this will help you. Equally, if they have admitted beyond PAN in other years without any negative impact on results, this will help you. If they have significantly extended the school since the net capacity was set this is worth mentioning.

The second part is where you argue that your son's education will be prejudiced if he isn't admitted to this school. Whilst it is possible you will win on part 1 if you can persuade the panel that admitting your son won't cause any prejudice to the school, that doesn't happen very often. It is more likely that the panel will end up balancing the prejudice to your son against the prejudice to the school. You therefore need to have some good arguments for part 2 and these must not be about the quality of education on offer - every parent appealing for this school can say that so it doesn't really give the panel a reason why your son should be admitted.

Thanks prh47bridge, that's really helpful. I'd be sincerely grateful for any suggestions re. arguments for part 2. Being a selective school helps, I guess, in terms of arguing about the suitability of education at that school vs the alternatives. I was told not to stress logistics of getting to school vs others, even though its next door to the school 2 siblings will go to. Apart from unique aspects of the curriculum that might particularly suit my son, am I missing anything? Thanks again.

The advice about logistics is good. Appeal panels hear that kind of thing all the time. It doesn't give them a reason to admit. By all means mention in passing that his siblings will be going to the school next door but don't make a big thing out of it. Similarly avoid mention of Ofsted rankings and exam results. If the LA has allocated a school for your son, don't be overly critical of it. It may be a dump that no-one in their right minds would send their child to, but the panel isn't allowed to consider that.

I would major on the unique aspects of the curriculum that suit your son. I would also look at things like clubs and other extra-curricular activities which may benefit your son. Anything this school has got which isn't available at the allocated school (or, if there isn't an allocated school, the schools with places).

If this school will be attended by many of those in the area where you will be living, you can argue that attendance will help your son's social development as he will be with children from his local area. That's a fairly weak argument though, so I wouldn't spend too much time on it unless the alternative is a school that is a long way away.

Good luck.

Thanks so much. We are living in Zanzibar,feeling very out of the loop, so it's a real help to have your advice. Will scrutinise the website again today.