Primary School Appeal

[b***@hotmail.com]

Can someone please tell me if there is anything I can do to help win
my sones appeal for his primary school?

There was no advertising of the deadline this year. The nursery
(attached to the school) said that they were not required to inform
parents of the deadlines. The council is lying and saying that it was
advertised at the nursery. We have asked many parents, all who did
not see any advertising.

Everyone else found out the deadline by word of mouth. We didnt do
much socializing and so didnt know to apply in December.

We applied in January.

Another applicant applied in february. The school website had the
wrong date for deadlines, although she didnt know this earlier. This
applicant was given a place; and was told this by the council BEFORE
the letters went out. She lied to the council that she saw the
website BEFORE applying.

We live in zone, and have one child already in reception class. My
wife cany take two children to seperate schools, or one of them will
be late every day. It is a 20 minute walk between schools. We dont
have any support that could collect our child from the allocated
school in an emergency.

There have been 58 places allocated at the school. 25 of those went
to out of one applicants who could have gone to nearer schools.

What sort of points should I focus on to win this appeal? I have
heard there is little chance of winning a primary school appeal. I
have a complaint logged with the ombudsman about mal-administration.
Can the ombudsman create a place at the school?

[Amy]

Post by b***@hotmail.com
Can someone please tell me if there is anything I can do to help win
my sones appeal for his primary school?
There was no advertising of the deadline this year. The nursery
(attached to the school) said that they were not required to inform
parents of the deadlines. The council is lying and saying that it was
advertised at the nursery. We have asked many parents, all who did
not see any advertising.
Everyone else found out the deadline by word of mouth. We didnt do
much socializing and so didnt know to apply in December.
We applied in January.
Another applicant applied in february. The school website had the
wrong date for deadlines, although she didnt know this earlier. This
applicant was given a place; and was told this by the council BEFORE
the letters went out. She lied to the council that she saw the
website BEFORE applying.
We live in zone, and have one child already in reception class. My
wife cany take two children to seperate schools, or one of them will
be late every day. It is a 20 minute walk between schools. We dont
have any support that could collect our child from the allocated
school in an emergency.
There have been 58 places allocated at the school. 25 of those went
to out of one applicants who could have gone to nearer schools.
What sort of points should I focus on to win this appeal? I have
heard there is little chance of winning a primary school appeal. I
have a complaint logged with the ombudsman about mal-administration.
Can the ombudsman create a place at the school?

Have you put your son's name on the waiting list? You will be surprised how
many people drop out, and if you are in catchment you will stand a good
chance of getting a place. Why have only 58 places been allocated? Surely
it should be 60 - two classes of 30 children, which is the statutory maximum
in an infant class. Have you checked whether there are spare places
available even now? I would suggest your first port of call should be the
school head - if you have a child there now you will have preference over
other children on the waiting list who do not have a sibling at the school.
Your head teacher should be able to give you all this information, and you
might even find there is no need to appeal.
Amy

[Welches]

Post by Amy

Post by b***@hotmail.com
Can someone please tell me if there is anything I can do to help win
my sones appeal for his primary school?
There was no advertising of the deadline this year. The nursery
(attached to the school) said that they were not required to inform
parents of the deadlines. The council is lying and saying that it was
advertised at the nursery. We have asked many parents, all who did
not see any advertising.
Everyone else found out the deadline by word of mouth. We didnt do
much socializing and so didnt know to apply in December.
We applied in January.
Another applicant applied in february. The school website had the
wrong date for deadlines, although she didnt know this earlier. This
applicant was given a place; and was told this by the council BEFORE
the letters went out. She lied to the council that she saw the
website BEFORE applying.
We live in zone, and have one child already in reception class. My
wife cany take two children to seperate schools, or one of them will
be late every day. It is a 20 minute walk between schools. We dont
have any support that could collect our child from the allocated
school in an emergency.
There have been 58 places allocated at the school. 25 of those went
to out of one applicants who could have gone to nearer schools.
What sort of points should I focus on to win this appeal? I have
heard there is little chance of winning a primary school appeal. I
have a complaint logged with the ombudsman about mal-administration.
Can the ombudsman create a place at the school?

Have you put your son's name on the waiting list? You will be surprised
how many people drop out, and if you are in catchment you will stand a
good chance of getting a place. Why have only 58 places been allocated?

I think reception often only take 28-29 children per class round here. They
can choose not to have more than 28 if they want to to get a smaller class
size for reception year only. Also a child with special needs takes up more
than a place in certain circumstances so if there are a couple of special
needs children then that would account for smaller numbers too. So there may
not be spare spaces available.
Surely

Post by Amy
it should be 60 - two classes of 30 children, which is the statutory
maximum in an infant class. Have you checked whether there are spare
places available even now? I would suggest your first port of call should
be the school head - if you have a child there now you will have
preference over other children on the waiting list who do not have a
sibling at the school. Your head teacher should be able to give you all
this information, and you might even find there is no need to appeal.

In this area (it does depend on your area though) if you already have a
child there you should go immediately to the top of the waiting list. I know
this because #1 had a child join in her class after the deadline (October
round here) but before the notices of who has got in go out, and his sister
was put at the top of the waiting list and got in very quickly.
Debbie

[Martin Rich]

Post by b***@hotmail.com
Can someone please tell me if there is anything I can do to help win
my sones appeal for his primary school?
There was no advertising of the deadline this year. The nursery
(attached to the school) said that they were not required to inform
parents of the deadlines. The council is lying and saying that it was
advertised at the nursery. We have asked many parents, all who did
not see any advertising.
Everyone else found out the deadline by word of mouth. We didnt do
much socializing and so didnt know to apply in December.
We applied in January.
Another applicant applied in february. The school website had the
wrong date for deadlines,

This seems to be the strongest element in your case, as you might
reasonably have expected the date on the school website to be
authoritative, and it sounds as though you'd have been certain of a
place had you got in before the deadline.

Post by b***@hotmail.com
I
have a complaint logged with the ombudsman about mal-administration.
Can the ombudsman create a place at the school?

Not sure whether the ombudsman was involved, but I do know of a case
where an extra place was created when an appeal was upheld. The
chances aren't high (and as another poster has said, you may well get
in on the waiting list without needing to appeal) but is you can
demonstrate that the procedures weren't followed correctly then that
will strengthen your case.

Martin