Help needed in school admissions appeal

[LYNDSAY]

Hi there I am new to this site, which was recommended by a good friend, so please excuse me if I am not quite getting it right!

I am a mother of three of which my oldest two are attending the same primary school with the oldest starting secondary school in September. In September also, my youngest is due to start school which I applied at the primary school of my oldest two. Unfortunately, due to the apparrent unpresedented amount of applications, my youngest childs application has been declined. She has been offered another school in a different area in a different direction, and as I do not have transport, this would result in myself having to do a school run of two hours morning and afternoon. Theres no direct bus route between the two schools either and even if I has transport I simply cannot be in two places at once! I cannot afford childcare to overcome the fact one child would be an hour late getting there or being picked up, I cannot let either child walk to school on their own as they are too young.

I am appealling. The chances of succeeding are apparently "slim to none" as quoted by council admissions.

I would please like some help in the way I appeal. Does anybody know of any loopholes??

Thank you in advance if anybody can give me any help!

[legaleagle]

Hi let me state by saying I'm afraid I do not know the school admissions appeal procedure very well. It is also worth saying that different regions use different criteria for allocating school places. I do however know that it is possible in many cases to "politely" bully these local authority groups. From what you have said your child is going into school at reception year. This would mean that they are starting with all new children (important as they cannot say the children who have been put above your child are already within the school system.) It seems that you have quite a few things in your favour such as the fact you already have children in the school, the fact I assume you live near to the school and the fact that you have no transport.

Now most schools in my area have n intake of around 30. If your area is the same (which I am assuming that broadly speaking it is) then what they are saying is that 30 children have more of a need to go to that school then your child. If I was you I would contact the admissions line and ask them for a detailed reason in writing of why your child has been denied. Then tell them that if they are seriously telling you that your child is not likely to get a place then you need them to fully document WHO was responsible for this decision as you will be taking your case to the Local Government Ombudsman. This is the body to make sure that they have followed their own guidelines which my guess is they haven't.

I would remain calm throughout and keep stressing (the truth) that all you are is a concerned parent who wants the best for her child. Also stress the hardship it will place you under and the fact that you will have to rely on the free transport to and from school for ALL your children due to this decision. I would also stress that none of your children are able to go to school with anyone else, so in effect they are asking you to choose who's education is most important to you.

At this stage I would also ask them what they suggest is your best way of getting your children to school in the event of the appeal going against you. Ask for this in writing and ask for it to be signed by someone in there department.

What all this does is several things.
1 it shows them the problem in real terms, real people, not just as a name on a screen.
2 It shows them the financial cost to them of your child going to a different school.
3 It shows them that you will hold an individual responsible for the decision (the individual who is now deciding where your child goes) and if it is found that that individual has given a place to someone less deserving of a place then they as well as the group as a whole will be accountable. There is in my experience nothing local authority people hate quite like being singled out for the possible sack.

When you do all this it is (in my opinion) very important to remain as calm and reasonable as you can so as to give them a way out (giving your child that school place you want.) Just firmly show them that you will continue to fight for your child's education until they listen.

I can't guarantee this will work but in my experience local authority employee's are very paranoid (with good reason) about losing their job for not following the rules. By doing this you are making it personal to them so in their minds it's not just your life that could be effected by their decision. I have used a similar process on adult social services to get a friend of mine help with her dementia suffering husband.
Like I say I am not telling you this as an expert, just as a fellow parent. Hopefully other people have more experience of this procedure then me and can give you more advice.

I hope it goes well. let us know what happens

[whitebakecase]

ive helped somebody with one of these just recently, we played the "psychological damage", "peer separation anxiety" and "emotional harm due to age" cards, basically pleading that the child would be emotionally damaged due to the separation..... we won

[legaleagle]

I knew there would be someone on here who would know about these things. Sounds like a good plan.
I hope it works out.

[LYNDSAY]

Thank you for the advice. I am assured that they have indeed followed the correct criteria...although I have been informed from a parent from another school that they have been offered a place at the school I need even though they have no siblings there, not in catchment and does not want to attend our school. So, to me they actually haven't but how do I prove it?? At the moment they have allocated a total of 46 to the reception where we need. The school has two classes of reception and by law cannot exceed 30 in each making 14 possible places available. BUT the council states they can't exceed 45 unless extreme circumstances ie special needs that the school can provide. The headteacher of the school is very supportive and has contacted council saying theycan make room for us but it's convincing the council. We are JUST out of catchment. Moving into catchment would make my appeal better but cannot due to being absolutely no available properties and the fact it'd cost so much. We are not the only family to be appealling either. There are 12 others with siblings trying to get in on a list of 39 waiting to get in...the odds seem against us and the thought of us failing is completely stressing me out. I will indeed keep you informed of what happens, I am still waiting for an appeal hearing date, and the thought of not knowing is awful, cannot plan to do anything, even simple things like sort out school uniforms. Many thanks and if anybody has any other suggests, they'd be greatfully received.

[whitebakecase]

TBH we never got as far as the appeal hearing, the paperwork went off and a week later the school was on the phone offering a place.

I didnt record all the websites we used for reference, as I used a friends laptop at times, but youre welcome to my bookmarks off this computer:

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-changing-schools-often-damaging-kids-230234.html

http://www.educationletters.co.uk/letter-lea-contesting-childs-school-allocation.html

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/schoolslearninganddevelopment/choosingaschool/dg_4016309

http://www.lawpack.co.uk/cohabitation/articles/article768.asp

http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-and-children/separation-anxiety-in-children-how-to-help-your-child/

http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Separation-anxiety-disorder.html#b

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/primary/11/html/860.stm

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1091/changing_schools_tough_on_kids/

http://www.tau.ac.il/~sadeh/baby/stress.htm

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1187269-Any-tips-for-primary-school-appeals/AllOnOnePage

http://www.school-info4u.com/How_to_write_a_letter_of_appeal.html

Hope this helps

[LYNDSAY]

Hi there, thanks for links, I shall be printing them all off and using as ammunition! I have now been given a hearing date, Fri 29th June, so not long now at last. Got to piece everything together and make a good case, better than the others who are also appealing! Wish me luck!

[whitebakecase]

hope you get the result you want, all you can do is your best and try stay a step ahead of the competition

[LYNDSAY]

Had the reslts of the appeal today...unsucessful now I am expected to do two, two hour round trips to school and back! or take my eldest child out of a school she is happy, settled and doing well in to start again at a school neither me or either children know any of the staff or pupils or even the school building. It's shocking in it's outragious defiance of logic....

[whitebakecase]

im sorry about your news, is there a process where you can appeal the appeal..? If that makes sense