How you can win your school appeal
The Government’s announcement this week that parents who have not got their child into their first-choice school should appeal promises to cause mayhem in educational establishments throughout the country.
I should know, because I teach in a top-achieving comprehensive in outer London. In the past, parents angry that their child has failed to gain a place have phoned sobbing, shouted abuse at staff and, in one extreme case, staggered around drunk on the premises raging against the “injustice” of the system.
During the research for my book Parent Power — The Parents’ Guide to Getting the Best Education for Your Child, I spoke to a number of parents whose children had been rejected by popular schools. They all told me about their bitter disappointment. Most of them felt that their child’s life would be harmed if he or she attended the school they had been offered. Many of them followed the Government’s current advice and appealed against the decision.
Then their fun really began. Mounting a “school appeal” is a time-consuming and nerve-racking business. Furthermore, contrary to government propaganda, statistics show that it is often unproductive: roughly one fifth of appeals do not succeed. This is largely because many parents mount emotional appeals that their child needs a place because he likes the look of one school over another, or because his best friend goes to the school, or because he is too clever to go to a poorer-performing school.
These reasons will never succeed because they are not based on what are known as a school’s “admissions criteria”, the rules by which it chooses its pupils. If a parent’s appeal is going to succeed, he or she must prove that the school did not apply its admissions criteria correctly or that the problems faced by the child in going to another school outweigh the trouble for the school in admitting the child.
A third of completed applications are faulty: forms are not filled in fully, vital questions are incorrectly answered, crucial evidence is not provided. The net result may be that a child is not offered a place simply because bamboozled parents have not mastered the bureaucracy of the process.
It is crucial to read the guidance issued by the school to the letter: one tiny slip-up can mean rejection.
Usually, the school or local authority website provides all the relevant details.
Above all, your appeal will need to show that your child does indeed meet the school’s admissions criteria. I have known parents measure the distance between the school and their home with rulers to show that they do indeed live within the catchment area. Other parents trying to get their child into faith-based schools pester their religious leaders for detailed references, in some cases attempting to butter them up with “donations”. In one case, a parent actually pretended to be a pastor in order to get his child into a Christian school.
My advice is always to be honest but put absolutely everything you can think of into your appeal. This could mean showing that your child has aptitude in the school’s “specialisms”, such as drama or sports, or that your child would benefit immeasurably from the unique curriculum the school offers, or that he has special educational needs that can only be catered for at your preferred school. With religious schools some are vague, just asking for evidence that you are practising in that faith. Others are much more hard-nosed, demanding proof of regular church attendance for at least two years. Appeals are not adjudicated by the school or local education authority, but independent “lay” people, usually drawn from the local community. They will consider all parents’ points, including those not part of the school’s admissions criteria. If there are “special considerations” you will need to spell them out fully. I have known of parents who have confessed at appeal meetings that they are ill or disabled, which means their child needs to go a school which is easily accessible by train or bus but not necessarily the closest school, and have succeeded with their appeal. The panel has the power to ignore a school’s admissions criteria.
However, parents do have to bear in mind that they are the biggest single influence upon a child’s results and happiness. A huge amount of systematic and reliable research has shown that children will do well at more or less any school if they are supported positively by their parents.
Will a financial situation be taken into consideration at an appeal?
For instance we live 15 miles from our first choice of school, so we are out of the catchment area and even in a different council zone. My parents and my partners parents live within 2 minutes of the school and we rely heavily on them for child care. My son currently goes to the pre-school.
There is a school at the end of our road where we live, but if my son goes to that school we would have to employ a child minder in the mornings before school and after school until my partner gets home from work.
We can’t afford to employ a child minder, which in turn would require my partner to reduce her working hours, which would mean a salary decrease, which would mean we couldn’t afford our mortgage.
We do plan on moving to the immediate area of our first choice of school within the very near future.
What are your views on this?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, it could be relevant. Remember you have to prove that the trouble suffered by your child outweighs the trouble incurred by the school for admitting him. So this in addition to other points may be a factor. Looking into WHY the school uniquely meets the needs of your child will help too. So look into any policies/curricula that are different from the other schools available and point how/why they meet your child’s needs. Also, look very carefully at the Admission Criteria. Do you actually meet it all? If not, you won’t win the appeal. Provide as much documentary evidence as you can that you meet the Admissions Criteria and by law they have to admit your child. If it is catchment area school, then you might be stuck. The Advisory Centre for Education are great on this stuff: http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/
my daughter is currently at nursery and due to start nursery in january. I have been refused all three of my choices.
My daughter is currently getting alot of support at nursery with support staff and the special inclusions team. she struggles in social situations and is highly sensitive to change. I have read the OFSTED report for the school he has been allocated and it is performing poorly. last year there was a 50% staff turn over and it states that classes are often disrupted.
The police have put me and my daughter as high risk victims and are currently working with a domestic violence organisation to keep us safe from my daughters dad. the school allocated is where family members of my daughters dad goes – so i cannot send her there for safety reasons.
the school i am appealing has reached the 30 max with is the law for primary schools. on the gov website it states only in exceptional circumstances would an appeal be won. do you think i have any chance?
another child in my sons school has got a place in out 1st choice he has not made his holy communion with the rest of the class and has suddenly produced a baptismal certificate from zimbarbwae my son did not get into this school although we regulary attend church where he serves as an alter server. The criteria is catholic can i argue that a catholic is someone that practises this faith
I have recently moved house. However due to the time it took, I was only in a position to apply in June 2010. I applied for both daughters to attend school at the new location. My older daughter got into our school of choice in sixth form (AS year). My younger daughter was however declined a place for year 7 in all 3 local schools and we lost the appeals as well. As background: –
1) We are in the catchment area of our first choice school . I.e. less than 1/2 mile
2) Our elder daughter is attending this first choice school
3) The council offered the younger daughter a school 5 miles away
4) There is no direct bus service from nearby our home to school. The nearest bus stop is nearly 1.5 miles away. There are no other children attending this school in our area who she can walk with. It was suggested at the appeal that she could walk to this bus stop
5) The school is a science specialist school and our daughter is keen on science and got level 5 in both science, maths at year 6 SATS and also English
6) We are needing to drive to and from school and we are finding it difficult. We are also not able to let her attend after school events.
Would you have any advice as to how we proceed?
The best thing to do is to call the Advisory Centre for Education, http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/
i have a huge problem this year
my son is at nusery at the moment and i have applied for him to go to the reception class of this same school however my application was 1 day late due to my mother who lives 250 miles away has cancer and i was her main carer for 5 months which ment i was at home mon and tues to attend work then i would travel to stay with my mother for the other days and return home late on the sunday night to start all over again.Apparently this is not classed as extreme circumstance even though my whole life and childrens lives were turned upside down.
i live 500 mtrs away from my local school which i have been refused and offered a school 3 miles away.
for me to accept this school would mean givng up my job as i have no family to help out with school runs i know no one in the area of this school i do not drive (25 min bus route) and can not afford childcare.
i feel the only option i am left with is to home school which i am not keen on and dont have the knowlage myself to do this, also where will this leave my child on a social level?
any advice would be much appreciated.
Can I suggest you contact the Advisory Centre for Education, http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/, who are set up to deal with these sort of inquiries.
General advice line:
0808 800 5793
HI , IM CURRENTLY HAVING TO GO TO APPEAL FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS BEEN RUFUSED ENTRY TO HER PREFERRED CATHOLIC SCHOOL OF CHOICE AS I HAD SENT HER ADMISSION FORM IN LATE, AS I HAD A PROBLEM GETTING HOLD OF ONE , MY FORM WAS RECEIVED IN FEB AND THE GOVORNORS MET IN JAN TO ASSESS ALL ADMISSIONS I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO WIN MY APPEAL AS I FEEL MY DAUGHTER NEEDS TO ATTEND THIS SCHOOL AS SHE MEETS ALL CRITERIA THEY ASK FOR ,SHE HAS A SISTER IN THE SCHOOL ALREADY SHE ATTENDS A FEEDER SCHOOL AT PRESENT AND I FEEL SHE SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FOR ME AS IT WAS MY FAULT THE FORM WAS LATE PLEASE HELP.
I have been trying to contact the advise centre for two days now and I keep on getting a message that their lines are busy and I need to call them back. How am I supposed to get their advice as I can’t get through to them at all. My daughter was not accepted in any of our six choices of schools and although she is attending the nursery in the Catholic school we’ve applied for, she didn’t get in and most of the kids in her group got in the school. We’re Christian Orthodox and of course we’re further down in the admissions criteria list, but I know so many children attending the school that are not catholic and we still didn’t have a chance to get in. We’ve been given a place in the nearest community school, which after visiting tonight, just made us even more disappointed, as we didn’t like the school at all, although they’re expanding now and got funds from the council, but still for sure they’re not improving at all. We’re both working full time and the offered school doesn’t have even an after school or breakfast club. So do you think that if we appeaal, we have a chance to win. I have read that this year there is a baby boom and so many children have been left without places and our council is one of the worse places in regards with that.
Please help.
This article is now out of date in that the helpline I believe is not fully staffed because there are issues over funding. I am sorry to hear about your problems. Your Local Authority is legally bound to help you over this; I strongly contacting them as a matter of urgency
Hi,
My daughter has been refused a Reception place at the catholic school where she is currently attending Nursery. I have an elder daughter who has been attending the school for 4 years ( I do live in the catchment area) I missed the midnight deadline and submitted my application 10 hours late (due to my own poor health) I am awaiting an appeal date, I feel the school were unreasonable as they were unwilling to listen to my explanatiion for being late and put my form at the bottom of 80 applications (there were 30 places available)
Can anyone give me any advice?
Much appreciated
Mrs K
Yes, appeal, as you have done, and make sure you raise these issues and that you MEET the criteria for getting into the nursery. That’s the crucial point.
my son has been refused for catholic school (2 minutes walk from us) reception class, but he was offered place at school where his nursery now/ We are christian Orthodox and I want him to grow in faith. For me is it end of wolrd and I will have appeal hearing in 1 month time/ I do not what to say on appeal but if they will refuse me I feel like I will faint or die/ I am also 8 months pregnant and it is very big stress for me. Do you know who can help me with this matter. Thank you. Other schools in my area (the nearest is 20 minutes walk) are very bad/ I also take my kid to protestant church every sunday, but all my forms have been signed by our Orthidox Priest, who baptised my son. Should I ask letter from protestant church as well now for appeal day? Please help
my daughter missed getting into her school of preference due to admissions criteria coming down to randomised alphabet selecting them based on their surname. the principal informed me they stopped at the letter before my daughters surname, do i have grounds to appeal on the basis of human error ? i can say how she would be disadvantaged by not going to the preferred school but not sure how i can link it to criteria
thanks
Yes, getting as many references as possible should help you.
Yes, appeal on the grounds stated above, also make sure you have said HOW you meet the criteria. Ie if preferential treatment is given to children with special needs, and your child is proven to have special needs, say this etc…
My daughter has been refused a place at a school 2 minutes walk away where my other daughter is in class 2! Apparently we are one house out of catchment even though we are the last house on the road and live nearer than most of the other children who attend! I have worked at the school since May 2010, I organise the walking bus, did my college placement here, and help with every event. 18 siblings have got a place, my daughter is the only one who hasn’t as catchment comes before siblings. 15 of her friends from nursery are going too. She has been given a place at a school 2.2 miles away! We are devastated! She cannot understand why she can’t go to her sister and friends school. Any suggestions how I can win our appeal?
I am assuming that the main criteria is distance to the school? If it is, then you’ll need to appeal on the basis of other criteria, and make a special case that only the school nearest to you can meet the child’s educational needs. IE, get a doctor/counsellor/relevant note that the travel would unduly stress your child and inhibit their learning etc. That’s how you’ll have to frame it; it’s all about meeting the criteria and showing how this school can UNIQUELY meet your child’s needs. Eg, not being with their sibling could psychologically inhibit their learning etc…
My son had behaviour problems at his infant school he was sent to a special unit in another school, he has had an ed psych and is under a pediatrician and getting councelling each week. At various meetings the experts involved in helping him thought the open plan design of the school was making his difficulties worse as he gets upset at high noise levels. I was ad used by the social Inclusion team and tea hers to look for another school for him that could meet his needs as the unit he attends is not a long term solution. I chose a school that was smaller had traditional walled classrooms and SEN staff trained to deal with his behaviour problems. I am a single mum so I had no choice but to move my other children my son has a place in year 2 my daughter has started in year 5 but my youngest does not have a reception place. I have an appeal hearing next week do you think I have any chance the school are saying they are full. I have had support from CAMHs who have written a letter to the appeal to say that seperating my youngest from her siblings is detremental to her and the strain of getting to schools on my own adds stress to our family, could I win an appeal on these grounds?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hi, I’m move from portsmouth to Newcastle and both my children have been turned down because there is no places available at the local schools so I am going to appeal it due to myself having mental health problems ( social anxiety disorder and OCD) . When I spoke to the infant school I was told even if I went to appeal for medical reasons it would get turned down as the maximum they are allowed is 30 children so I should look at other schools for him as I won’t win the appeal.
I’m getting a letter off my doctor and I have a history of mental health going back over 4 years , is the school right that I have no chance of winning and is there anything else I can do to make sure I win?
I can understand why the school said this, but an independent lay panel will judge your appeal, and they have to weigh up: does the trouble suffered by the school outweigh your trouble if your children go elsewhere? In your appeal, you MUST explain why your mental health issues impact upon your children, ie you are unable to make sure that they are punctual to a school further away because your OCD means you find it impossible to meet tight deadlines, or your issues mean you find attending parents’ evenings very difficult if the school is far away. Explain that your children will suffer from your panic and worry etc. Definitely appeal; I think an independent lay panel need to hear your case. It’s their decision in an appeal NOT the school’s. The school will argue the case they’ve stated to you, but you need to really show your children’s education will seriously be harmed if you go further away. Good luck.
hi
Because of moved into new area i applied for my daughter primary school late. I didn’t offered of my any 6 choice of school and my daughter had been given school which is 20 mins walk from my place. I was happy that still i got my daughter in school. But soon after a month i become pregnant and also i have 1 year old son. Now i am 6 months pregnant and i am having problem to take my daughter school. I have Medical reason Doctor advise me and give me letter I have a thyroids and i get tired if walk more then 10 mins.
I have appealed and i have hearing in 2 weeks time. I submit appeal on Medical ground. The school which i appeal for is very close to my home, it just 1 min walk on the same street.
Can you please tell me what are my chances to get this and what more strong point i will give in hearing to win the case.
Hi my son who is 4 has panic attacks we live in an area we have no family or friends. He started a nursery a year ago of which 10 children he knows and 2 really close with will attend this school we are out of the parish area not by much 300 meters. the school is 2miles away no turns just one long road. the two closest schools have 60 children per class he could not cope in this enviroment. he has been coping well because of these two friends his nervous ticks have stopped amongst other things and he attends the pre-school and is already attached to the school.
I am going to talk to the doctor again tomorrow who im sure will support my appliction with a letter as he knows my son well i know if he attends a school without his support network sent to a total ramdom strange lonely place his problems will magnify emensly I beliveve if he attends our first choice on medical /social ground all this nervous panic could be gone forever.
I spoke to our local LEA and she said that panic attacks can be delt with at any school I dont really know what chances a supporting letter will have any advice please as I am desperate for advice.
You need to look carefully at your preferred school’s policies for dealing with children with anxiety, and see if they have any approaches, policies, etc that UNIQUELY address the needs of anxious parents. Do appeal, but when you do you have to uniquely show that the trouble incurred by your preferred school in taking your son is LESS THAN the trouble you’ll have if he doesn’t go there. You should look carefully at the admissions’ criteria of the school of your choice, and see if you meet that criteria. You should ask for an assessment for Special Educational Needs for your son, because most schools favour students with SEN in their admissions’ criteria.
Hi there a bit of advice please. My son is very academic in Maths/Literacy/IT and we applied to three schools the first two academies and final a church school. We did not choose our closest school for numerous reasons (Art/Music Academy) including my son was bullied at our school and he has been separated from the perpetrators since Yr4 and the incidents are on record. These children we knew would be going to the local school so we chose not to subject our son to anymore abuse and lack of confidence which he as suffered for the past 3years. We know he ranked high in the stanines from the cognatitive test but this went against him as a greater percentage is taken from middle bands. All his friends he feels safe with achieved places at the school best suited for his ability and out of our sons year only he did not get any offers only the local school. I am a parent governor at my sons school and am so disappointed with the outcome and process……..help?
Hi, I am a single dad, my oldest daughter has just finished school her younger sister is still at the same school in her third year, the school is 2 minute walk from our house, I applied 5 days late to get my youngest in for this coming September but have been offered a school 15 mins walk through an in light underpass to get to the station to catch a bus 10 miles to another town where she has no friends knows no body, I have appealed and waiting the decision, I work full time and given the nature of my job could not attend the school they have offered for meeting/ if my daughter was sick ect as where I have friends that could if she were local, also the travel cost I could not meet, any advice very welcome as I’m at wits end
my son has been bullied both verbally and physically in his current school…….by girls!!! the school have dealt with these girls buit it got to the case where my son was pretending to be ill, fall off his bike or any other excuse not to go!
i want him moved to a school, that was his first choice in year 7 ( he is in year 8 now) but this school is full!
i have an apeal in a couple of weeks and want to put my case to them. can you help?
my son has been refused a place at his feeder school, he’s suffered a lot of emotional issue which have clearly effected his learning progress the school he is in now has him on a iep, his social peers have been the only constant in his life and have given him much needed support over the last 7 year’s, his behaviour has never been bad so never really thought I needed medical help as it’s only been educational, when he found out he hadn’t got in to his choosen school he was distraught, I think this move no matter the support from me will affect his education in a huge way along with him emotionally, what can I do to win my appeal.
Hi, My son is 14 and currently in our catchment school. However he is a keen sports person and another High School in the area offer great sports facilities. He was turned down for the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme due t his form not being handed in and there being only a limited amount of places? (He was off sick). He is very upset with the school and often comes home very upset. He has been asking me to put his name on the waiting list at the other school and finally relented in January this year having found him very upset saying he doesn’t want to go to school. Originally he was 2nd on the list and then became 1st. We rang the other school and asked if we could visit. The head of year told us to come the following day, they were expecting a place to become vacant due to a student moving. We went for the visit and then spoke to the head of year about all his subjects and options. Half term came next and we awaited eagerly for the news that he had been accepted. I rang our local county council who confirmed there was a place now available and we should hear something soon. The same afternoon I noticed a missed call from the high school. I was ecstatic and rang back immediately only to be told that they had been advised the place had been given to a young girl who was in foster care. My son was so distraught but said he had heard another place had become available due to a boy being expelled. On ringing the school they said they would look into things but even if he had been expelled he would remain on the books. I took this information to county and said I wanted to put in an appeal. I was told to sit tight and that they would look into the situation and that the school was going to become an Acaedemy and this would allow them to make their own decision. However the new status does not apply until July this year and the decision came back saying there were no places available. I then requested that my original request of an appeal be lodged. My son wants to do well at school, he wants do the Duke of Edinburgh and has already arranged for a work experience placement, he wants to move forward with his dreams of becoming a Rugby professional and has already looked at Colleges to enable him to do this. However he comes home from school very sullen and upset. He has even suggested that we move in with my sister who is in the catchment area just in case he loses out on not being the first on the waiting list. It is very distressful for any mother seeing their child so upset. How do I move this forward…..please?
Our daughter had been refused all 3 of our chosen catholic primary schools, and been offered a place at a non catholic school slightly further away. The catholic schools are 0.9, 1.0 and 1.1 mile away. We are a devoted catholic family and it is very important to us that our daughter receive a catholic education. Do we have strong grounds to appeal this decision?
Hello, my Daughter was not offered a place at one of the schools that were my preference, even though we are within the catchment area. However she was offered a place at a Catholic primary school (which isn’t very good, and that I did not put down as an option). She is not Catholic and will not be raised in any religion. I have declined the offer, and will appeal. Can I argue that I do not want my Daughter to go to a religious school?. For example I cannot imagine they would place a child who is Muslim or Jewish in a Catholic school, so why should my child because she has no religion have to go to a school where they worship God, pray and attend church regularly. If you have any advice it would be much appreciated. Thank you.
My nephew Antony has been refused a place at the school he has been attending for foundation stage 1. His brother Jacob attends the school and is being tested for autism among other problems. Jacob (the older one) is very sensitive, lacks social skills greatly and takes so badly to change. The school was specially picked because of its size and reputation for good practice with SEN, there isn’t one in the area like it, there is no where else. I am a single mum and couldn’t take them to separate schools, hence I cant be in two places at once. The school is full for Antony’s year and the local authority have offered them both places at an alternative school but having known this before its not suitable. If it was last year Antony would have got in and they have told me that there are at least another 5 parents appealing for the same. Is there anything that i can go on?
hi mine is a difficult one my 4 yr old has been attending a nursery literally a 5 minutes walk from where we live. I have had her registered for it since birth to go there and they usually start the sept after there 3rd birthday so this should have been sept 2012 but they rang me the same week as her 3rd birthday feb 2012 and said a morning place has become available. she started that week and loves it. she has now been there 14mnths and obviously come sept will be 21 months. is one of the oldest in her class and been there the longest has come on leaps and bounds as shes a pretty shy kid made loads of friends and loves the school . I always asked if I was in catchment area no one seemed to quite know where it finished somewhere near me but never quite new. I looked online and could never find it. I have never been told at any point im not in there catchment area. when It come to making choices I put the school as 1st as I also have another daughter that has just turned 3 and also have her registered from birth to start any day now when the next place comes available. I then find out my eldest daughter didn’t get in and we have our 3rd choice which I put only because we where told to put three or be allocated anywhere. I at least thought I would get my 2nd choice. now im in a situation as I have contacted the admissions dept and they have said we live out of the catchment area by literally couple foot steps away. we are devastated and shes been in tears when I have approached the subject as have I as I feel like im breaking my daughters heart. what happened to last in first out policy…I also am waiting to here for my youngest starting and now darn’t do that as then I may have to pull 2 upset kids out what do I do?
I have been told its also due to school been over subscribed and that there is 30 places and 38 applied for 1st place if the other 8 appeal then there is waiting list of 8 all together and my little one is 5th on the list so even if 5 kids left :/ then another kid could still move into the ‘catchment area’ and take the place over her even though they have never attended the school and she will have been there 21 months. How is this fair.
there has also been a womens refuge centre opened up around the corner from the school that’s in the ;catchment area’ and has kids coming and going all the time as they move in and out of the area but get priority over my child this really isn’t on.
I work and we have a mortgage I cant do what some of them do and choose to move to suit my needs or put other family members address down to make sure my child gets in…. I also have my mum who looks after the kids 2-3 days a week when im at work. a 5 minute walk down the road was bad enough but she would have to walk 30 minutes away there and back 3 times a day and that would be if the smallest of the 2 can even get a nursery place at new school now as not registered. she is 62 in ill health and doesn’t drive cant walk far what do I do. I also suffer with back issues since childbirth and use to be a keen runner and had to give this up as I can barley walk to the school they are at now. this is noted in my medical records.
so now I al stuck between a rock and a hard place. do I pull her out now and start them both together or do I have a chance with an appeal even though the school is full. the school has just gone to academy status on 1st april also.
if I stayed on waiting list till a place comes up can I do this and hope its before shes 5 and keep her at home or what are my options I have seen about deferring the offer or something on other forums?
the other school is a good school but with me and my husband working its not possible to get them there when one would be full time and other half days (if gets in) ?
sorry for ranting thanks
The key thing to do is prove that your daughter’s needs to go to the school OUTWEIGH the school’s difficulties with taking her on. Look at the school’s policies and try and match how/why these policies are UNIQUE to this school and MEET your child’s needs. Keep on the waiting list. Try not to worry too much. Also do contact your LA about this and ask for more advice, which you’re entitled to. Good luck!
Go with exactly what you’ve said here, how and WHY the SEN provision UNIQUELY meets the needs of your child. Good luck!
This is an interesting one. The main thing is not to be negative about the other school, but POSITIVE about your preferred one, and show how this school with its POLICIES (have a look at them) UNIQUELY meets the needs of your child. You must meet the admissions’ criteria of the school if you don’t, you won’t get in. Your LA should have an advice line about this, or someone to help you more. Please contact them if you haven’t already.
Remember to show that you meet the criteria of your preferred school, and show how your preferred UNIQUELY meets the needs of your child compared with other schools. Look at their policies etc.
Remember to show that you MEET the admissions’ criteria of your preferred school, and that the school is unique in the way it meets the unique learning needs of your child.
Show how your preferred school uniquely meets the needs of your child through its position, its policies and ethos. Good luck!
You must show how your preferred school UNIQUELY meets the needs of your child through its policies, ethos and approach. You also must MEET its admissions’ criteria. Good luck!
My daughter was refused all 5 of her places and has now been offered a place at a Church of England school which is 95
% white British students , we are Indian I’m sikh faith & are not happy with this – I checked with the school and they have NO Indian pupils in the entire school! I am really shocked the school was offered to us plus it is very far to get to & I am a full time working mum the breakfast club & afterschool club activities are choir practise & football which are not suitable for us and the times do not suit my work? Is there good ground for appeal that I am not happy with my child being the only Indian student In the whole school? Thank you
There are equal opportunities issues here. You are entitled to ask the school what provision they will meet given the unique needs of your child. Do you meet the admissions criteria of your preferred school? You really should contact your LA, they are obliged by law to help you with any issues you may have.
Yes I met all the admission criteria, for the schools i listed. I have visited the school I have been offered and was told my daughter has to take part In Assembly & prayers. The LA has told me to to appeal but I feel this issue is quite serious, not just a simple matter of I do t like the school .
Hi,
My son is currently in the nursery class of our first choice school However, we have been refused a place in reception year due to us not being catholic, and our son is the only one not to be offered a place. We are Hindu and religion forms a very important part of our lives hence why we wanted our son to attend a faith based school so he too could learn and understand the importance of faith. He would also be the only Asian in the school, which does not worry me but I feel we are being discriminated because of this. Also one of the parents of a children in the nursery knew of our situation and in front of all the other parents, asked my wife if we were the ones who were refused. Which I find disgusting, especially as my wife is quite upset about the situation. I am lead to believe the offer of a place is confidential, and I have come to know the parent is very close to one of the School Governors. Also, if we accepted our second choice place, my wife would need to change her working hours, and we’d also need to increase our childcare costs, which in turn would affect our financial situation. What grounds would I have for appeal?
Hi, my daughter and granddaughter live with us as she is a young single mum. My youngest daughter attends our local catholic school, as did all of my other 7 children however my granddaughter was not given a place as they said she could not be counted as a sibling. We obviously can’t be in 2 places at once to take them to school and back. (I would be the one to do this usually but I work full time and sometimes my son needs to come straight from secondary school on the bus to collect. It would then be another bus to collect my granddaughter. Can we argue that she should be counted as a sibling?thanks for any help you can offer.
I don’t think you’ll be able to claim “sibling status”. You need otherwise to show that your preferred school uniquely meets your grandchild’s needs, compared with other schools, this will mean looking at the school’s policies and facilities.
Hi , my daughter has been refused a place at the secondary school that my other children attended (two are still in attendance at the school) . When my eldest son started there we were in the catchment area, we have not moved but the catchment area has which is out of our control (it now finishes just a few steps from our house) It will be much cheaper for me to take them by car than bus and the school she has been offered is slightly nearer but more difficult to get to and theres no dedicated school bus like at her brothers school and she won’t catch a public bus on her own
You’ll have to take this to the Local Govt Ombudsman http://www.education.gov.uk/popularquestions/schools/appealsprocess/a005498/lost-school-admissions-appeal, if you want to take this further. You really need to show your child met the schools’ admissions criteria, or show how your preferred school UNIQUELY meets your child’s needs. Good luck!
Thanks for your advice.