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Hi,
I am really confused, please can somebody help?
We've just received our letter from the appeals board. It states VERY strict criteria which our case must meet in order to even be considered. A lot of people may agree with me when I say that I find the legal wording pretty mind boggling!
They are clearly trying to put people off appealing and I'm not even sure if I have a case to present.

I have read through loads of different advice and there seems to be no mention of this strict criteria which all seems to be based around the Admissions Board having made a mistake or acted unfairly at some point (which I'm pretty sure they didn't).
It also says that they cannot increase the class size to above 30.
I will say that I've been told that my son is next on the waiting list to receive a place if one comes up, so we are just hoping at the moment, but the case i was going to put across is this (in short);
In September my eldest son will be moving up from the primary school we were hoping to get the younger one into, to the junior school in the same village. My younger son, however, has been offered a place in the school in a neighbouring village (our catchment school apparently, even though we are a lot closer to the other one!).
My case is that it will be nigh on impossible for me to pick my youngest up from the neighbouring village at 3pm and get to the other village to pick up my eldest on time at 3.15.
Also, my son already attends the nursery at our preferred school and has all his friends there (although i doubt if they will take this into account)

They say they can not take into account personal circumstances but I've read many accounts of people winning appeal cases with just such arguments.

I would be so grateful for any advice as we really cannot afford to pay a solicitor and I don't know wether there is any point appealing or just to sit tight and hope a place comes up.

Many thanks.

Hi Yaya, from what you have said I think you have a really good case. The fact that you will need to be in two different places at the same time is a very good reason for appeal, and I really dont understand the fact that they say they cannot take into consideration personal circumstances, as that is exactly what an appeal is for in my opinion. I Know primarys have to be very strict on class numbers, but I have known people appeal for oversubscribed primary schools and manage to get in. Certainly worth appealing, you have nothing to lose, i dont think most people have solicitors for the appeal, well i dont know any and there are several of us appealing for a secondary school at the moment, have a look at this site which is quite useful and they offer free advice http://www.ace-ed.org.uk Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Hi Samantha,
Thanks so much, that's really encouraging. I totally agree with the thing about not taking into account personal circumstances, I mean how can it not be about that!
There may be some good news as I have just spoken to one of the teachers from our preferred school and she said there may be a place coming up (fingers crossed).
I will carry on with the appeal in the mean time though and will have a look at the site you mentioned.
Will let you know how it goes.
Thanks

Hello Yaya,

You should have access to a choice advisor or the citizens advice. If you look at one of the other forum titles - "appeals help" I think I have put a lot of information down on that. We have recently had a successful appeal to get our daughter into secondary school.

I would say that you have a very strong case. It would help if you know the numbers and class sizes. Don't fix your entire case on the inconvenience of being in two places at the same time, though I think that is a very important factor. You need to stress the hardship this would cause your family. Highlight how the edcuation of one of your children will be badly affected if they have to travel to a neigbouring village. As you have already had a child at the primary school, you should be aware of the school layout, teaching style, facilities, class sizes etc. I would have thought you could build up a very strong case with such amunition. If your child is in nursery at this school and your other child has been in the primary, then your youngest will have more aquaintances than those just in nursery. Presumably, your children are at an age where they socialise with each others friends, so the friendship circle for your youngest is much greater.

How far away is the other village?
What mode of transport would you have to take to get there?
Do you work?

Think about how your child being schooled in another village really affects you, then you can build up a case.

Don't worry, you won't lose your place on the waiting list if you appeal and it fails, only if someone moves into your village that is higher up on the list of admissions criteria.

Good luck

Thanks Ebee,
that's great advice (and I will file it away because I will almost definitely need it when we go through this again in a few years with my youngest) but fortunately for us we got the letter today saying that a place has come up and my son has been accepted for our preferred school, so we wont have to appeal after all...phew!!
Thanks so much both Samantha and Ebee!

Oh thats brilliant news yaya, well done, what a relief, just send a little bit of your luck my way please for June 9th when we have our appeal. Was it just down to movement on the waiting list??? I am really pleased for you..

Thanks Samantha, yes it's great news, he was top of the waiting list so we were really holding our breath as you can imagine!
Massive good luck for your appeal too (though I'm sure you wont need it as you really seem to know your stuff)!!
Keep us posted:D

That's excellent news, well done!