Another one on Appeals Process!! Help!

[Waltzer]

Hello All! I have read all that I can on here about the School's Appeals process, but can't find any that match my current problem, so thought I would ask if anyone can help!
I have been asked to represent a mum at her ds appeal on July 5th. The basis of her appeal is that the school he has been allocated has, in the past, shown a complete disregard for the culture and traditions of their community - they are Showmen, i.e.Fairground Travellers. Additionally there have been incidents of racist bullying to the extent that her ds is now extremely anxious about going to the school. The school they want has a much more welcoming ethos and he would feel safer there.
In your experience, does this have much chance of success, based on these reasons?
I really am struggling with this as I am so unsure as to whether such a case has any chance of success.
Thanks!

I would try to find out if your LEA has a specialist who helps the traveller community. There is a lot of research evidence out there about the problems that travellers have in schools. Schools are supposed to include. I would have thought that if prepared carefully it would be quite easy to show that the new school is necessary for the well being of the son.
Now I hand over the the experts.

The question that you don't answer is whether the family is "travelling" and therefore just coming into the area for a short period or is permanently resident in the area.

I suspect from your post that it is the later and that you are talking from past knowledge of other traveller families going to the allocated school.

I would try and separate the two issues from one another. There is firstly a line of appeal that is the school appealed for has a demonstrable welcoming ethos for travellers that the other school does not. You really need to try and give some examples and evidence that this is the case. Is there for instance anything on the appealed for school's website or specialist provision.

There is then a second line of appeal that is the issue of bullying. You again need to try and give specific evidence of bullying of the pupil and then more generally.

I would not say that they are the strongest of cases unless you can furnish good evidence but at a secondary school level there is more room for admission. It also obviously depends on the number of appealants and the strength of their cases.

If the situation is not one of a permanent admission to the school but one of a need for education being provided before you go travelling again then the correct route is not a school admission appeal but through the In Year Fair Access Protocol.