School placement appeal - urgent help needed

[AnilS]

Found out a couple of weeks ago that my son (13) will be going to his second choice school, which is his actual catchment school. So no real surprise. His first choice is a further mile away and he is currently in his last term at Middle school. This school actually is one of the feeder schools to his/our first choice.
His first choice has been oversubscribed, by what figure, I don't know. But speaking to those at the LEA, its been "greatly oversubscribed".
Heres the rub. I put in an appeal. I only got my date for appeal this week. The appeal is to be held next Wednesday, which gives me little time to prepare as much as I'd like.
My son is very bright, top sets for everything and Head boy at his current school, so would be an excellent asset to this (or any) school.
The question is that I can write glowingly about his attributes but what I'm not prepared for, are the types of questions, I'm likely to face at the appeal hearing, when faced with a panel of people.
Has anyone been through this and can offer me any guidance.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Anil.

 

[crockers]

Ask yourself why should he go there and not someone else. Prepare for that type of question. Does he have siblings going there? Do they offer subjects other schools don't ? Is he being bullied ? Does he have any special needs that can't be catered for at the local school?

Good luck.

 

[NormanC]

Would others like to comment on this thought?

I would steer clear of saying how bright your son is. There may well be an attitude that, if he's very bright, he'll get on "satisfactorily" at any school.

My wife was told by an ex-Home Secretary that we were morally reprehensible for not choosing to send our children to the local "sink" school on the basis that their performance would "improve it's standing". It is quite possible that the panel members may ascribe to this point of view.

 

[SL300-24]

Anil.....Your son's abilities do not matter where the appeal is concerned. What matters is firstly where you live, secondly ...siblings, also why your son cannot attend the school given (i.e bullying by persons at his present school now attending his given school), especially as it is nearer to your home.

You will need a strong case I'm afraid, I did it and luckily won for my daughter, many did not.
Definately do not 'big up' your son no matter how bright he is, this will not help in the appeal proceedure, they are not interested.
Good Luck.....it is a very worrying time.

 

[ceejay]

We went through this a couple of years ago with our daughter. The school she was placed at was not even on our list of preferences (worst in the area) and would have involved an 18 mile round trip twice a day for my wife to drop off both kids.

The appeal process is pretty fair and transparent, but ultimately it seemed to me that the main concern was that the LEA wanted to prove that it had applied the selection criteria correctly. As such, unless there has been an error, in the case of an oversubscribed school the best you can hope for is being put on the waiting list for someone to drop out, they can't just create extra places. Sorry if this doesn't sound promising, but it is quite likely that this is what will happen. My daughter finally got offered a place at the school she wanted in the last week of the summer term!

As to what to say in the appeal process, I would agree with Crockers advice and go armed with reasons why the preferred school would be more suitable, that way you may get put closer to the top of the waiting list. Be prepared to not just answer questions, but to actually "present your case" to the panel.

Hope this helps,
Chris

 

[Rory]

I know you haven't got much time, but I saw this book recommneded - if you order it today you could have it tomorrow:
How to Win Your School Appeal: Getting Your Child into the School of Your Choice: Amazon.co.uk: Ben Rooney: Books

 

[Londonscottish]

I've been through this. It's tough. If your appeal is anything like mine you will be faced by a bunch of local authority jobsworths who don't give two hoots about you or your child.

As long as they have ticked all the boxes and followed all the right procedures they will be sitting feeling quite happy with themselves, counting time the days to retirement and looking forward to their nice fat state pension.

In my case the onus was on me to prove they had actually done something wrong. Which my the narrow parameters of the case they hadn't. The fact that they were letting legions of parents around us cheat blatantly thus letting the wrong kids in ahead of mine wasn't material to them. So I lost round one.

Round two I won. My wife and I were so incensed by the shamefully off hand-treatment treatment dealt to us by the local authority that we launched a campaign and eventually got the entry criteria changed for the following year and eventually got my son in. We did this by playing them at their own game for - safe routes to school, disability access, green policies, etc etc - and eventually won by changing the way they measured distance.

The only family I know that won the first year was one that had a medical case. It was spurious in the extreme but it's a PC issue and but they all bend over backwards when that sort of thing presents itself......

Bitter? Moi? Yes!! I am still livid at the way those people took my money and spunked it away with no accountability whatsoever. I've spend twenty two years in the private sector and this episode was a real eye opener to me. A private sector company wouldn't last two minutes with that sort of attitude.

Anyway, apologies if I am ranting - and I hope that helps - good luck.

 

[Londonscottish]

We went through this a couple of years ago with our daughter. The school she was placed at was not even on our list of preferences (worst in the area) and would have involved an 18 mile round trip twice a day for my wife to drop off both kids.

The appeal process is pretty fair and transparent, but ultimately it seemed to me that the main concern was that the LEA wanted to prove that it had applied the selection criteria correctly. As such, unless there has been an error, in the case of an oversubscribed school the best you can hope for is being put on the waiting list for someone to drop out, they can't just create extra places. Sorry if this doesn't sound promising, but it is quite likely that this is what will happen. My daughter finally got offered a place at the school she wanted in the last week of the summer term!

As to what to say in the appeal process, I would agree with Crockers advice and go armed with reasons why the preferred school would be more suitable, that way you may get put closer to the top of the waiting list. Be prepared to not just answer questions, but to actually "present your case" to the panel.

Hope this helps,
Chris

A more measured version of what I was saying - good advice

 

[tim.100]

As long as they have ticked all the boxes and followed all the right procedures they will be sitting feeling quite happy with themselves, counting time the days to retirement and looking forward to their nice fat state pension.

QUOTE]

I have never understood how so much of the Education budget is NOT spent in schools. How do LEA's get some 40%?

A clear target for cuts by any means necessary.

 

[Londonscottish]

As long as they have ticked all the boxes and followed all the right procedures they will be sitting feeling quite happy with themselves, counting time the days to retirement and looking forward to their nice fat state pension.

QUOTE]

I have never understood how so much of the Education budget is NOT spent in schools. How do LEA's get some 40%?

A clear target for cuts by any means necessary.

Yeah and what was REALLY annoying is that they got to keep the state funding for my boy anyway and I had to send him private for a year....grrrrrr

 

[AnilS]

Firstly, many thanks for the advice and associated banter. Its heartening to hear real life experiences and issues.

The difference between the two schools is down to this; the first choice has had many years of Academic excellence over our second choice and it specialises in Science and technology which my son's forte are. The second choice school specialises in Art and Drama, but on the face of it still does Ok, having come out of special measures a couple of years ago.

Moving house was an option but considering it was a low birth year, we thought it would aid him getting in.

It seems, following playground chat today, there are at least 6 families (cannot provide evidence) that have rented properties in the area for 12 months prior to handing in their choice. Its kinda all coming out now.

I would like to "oust" a legitimate child from their catchment school but it seems some parents have no morals.

11+ was an option we chose not to persue. Some small regret in that now.

I will be drafting tha appeal over the weekend and have been online to seek official appeals gudance. That said, I find the debates on the forums more enlighting.

One final note is what my son thinks. He states he doesn't mind his "catchment" school as its easier to get home (the difference being 1 mile extra for the 1st choice school) but I feel (as does my wife) that he doesn't want us to "put us out". He is caring more about us than himself. This only makes me want to fight that bit harder.

 

[martin_a]

If he doesn't mind it and you think he might be doing it for you it could be worth having another chat with him. Where are his friends going? He might actually feel happier with less travel and having good friends with him than being more isolated at a different school and he is actually too polite to say that to you...

... only a thought mind. Sounds like the appeal should focus on the science aspect of the school. Underhand stuff is only to be expected unfortunately, education being free to all, a great leveller etc but even then those with a bit more money and less morals find a way to skew the system.

m.

 

[Apial]

11+ was an option we chose not to persue. Some small regret in that now.

I.

This option is not necessarily closed. Grammar schools will always allow late entry subject to place availability and the academic suitability of the applicant. Each Grammar School has its own admission criteria.

Once you have passed the entrance exam you will of course then hope that a place is available. If not, you will be placed on a waiting list in order of ability/mark in the test.

If you are really desperate to move school, then you could consider boarding your son. There are some state schools that take boarders and the annual fees are around the £6k mark. Officially boarding does not give you any entry preference, but I'm not so sure. Money talks.

Boarding is not for everyone, but it does remove home distraction from the academic focus.

 

[AnilS]

If he doesn't mind it and you think he might be doing it for you it could be worth having another chat with him. Where are his friends going? He might actually feel happier with less travel and having good friends with him than being more isolated at a different school and he is actually too polite to say that to you...

... only a thought mind. Sounds like the appeal should focus on the science aspect of the school. Underhand stuff is only to be expected unfortunately, education being free to all, a great leveller etc but even then those with a bit more money and less morals find a way to skew the system.

m.

Alot of his friends are going to our 1st choice school. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[AnilS]

This option is not necessarily closed. Grammar schools will always allow late entry subject to place availability and the academic suitability of the applicant. Each Grammar School has its own admission criteria.

Once you have passed the entrance exam you will of course then hope that a place is available. If not, you will be placed on a waiting list in order of ability/mark in the test.

If you are really desperate to move school, then you could consider boarding your son. There are some state schools that take boarders and the annual fees are around the £6k mark. Officially boarding does not give you any entry preference, but I'm not so sure. Money talks.

Boarding is not for everyone, but it does remove home distraction from the academic focus.

He is now too old (being 13). Boarding hasn't been considered since we are uncomfortable with the idea. He'd be petrified

 

[crockers]

Bear in mind that not everyone on the panel is a paid civil servant. Sone are volunteers and only get expenses. Bottom line is you will need sound reasons -feelings and emotions don't come into the process. Sorry.

 

[martin_a]

Alot of his friends are going to our 1st choice school. Thanks for your thoughts.

Cool. Difficult to advise without all the facts. As long as he's happy that's the main thing!

m.

 

[Apial]

You will find this forum pretty useful for appeals. It does mostly cover 11+ appeals, but there is plenty to finf on oversubscription appeals : 11 Plus Exams Forum • View forum - APPEALS - GENERAL