waiting list

september2010 · Post by **september2010** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:52 pm

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it looks like I will have to wait a couple of weeks for an update after the deadline for accepting and declining. I wouldn't know where to start with an appeal as it appears it's because I am just outside the distance decided this year. I can't see that I could present a worthwhile case. I need to know the last date for appeals.
Sept10

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:59 pm

Your appeal should be submitted before the end of March for Community and Controlled schools, to ensure it is heard with other appeals for the same school.

To get an idea as to what to submit for oversubscription appeals have a look at the Appeals Q&A - there is a link in the writing at the top of the Appeals section. Lincolnshire Choice Advisers also produce Factsheets to help you write your reasons for appeal.

Once you have read a bit about the basics do feel free to come back and ask more specific questions - there are plenty of people who have been through this who will be very willing to advise and support.

Marylou · Post by **Marylou** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:25 pm

september2010 wrote:I wouldn't know where to start with an appeal

...this is a pretty good place!

You must have had a good reason for putting the school as your first choice. If you feel it is the right school for your daughter, and will challenge her academically, then that is a perfectly valid reason. Perhaps the school has a specialism that will cater for your child's particular talents? Basically, anything you can think of to show why your daughter's need to go to the school outweighs the school's need not to admit another pupil. If you can show that the school has admitted over PAN in the past, this would also help. It's difficult with this type of appeal but not impossible and worth a try. The Appeals Q&A has useful information on both oversubscription and Lincolnshire.

It's best to accept the place offered in the meantime as a backup, and you can ask to go on the reserve list/waiting list for your chosen school as well. There is normally some movement, though I can't say what this is like for your area. People sometimes drop off the waiting list as they don't want the uncertainty. You need nerves of steel in this game, so hang in there!

september2010 · Post by **september2010** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:51 am

Thanks for the info, and there was me thinking I was in with a really good chance............

Marylou · Post by **Marylou** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:02 am

september2010 wrote:Thanks for the info, and there was me thinking I was in with a really good chance............

Don't lose heart - the main thing is to follow it through and prepare as good a case as you can. I don't know if Lincs LA tells you if you've moved up the waiting list, but in Bucks the LA lets you know exactly where you are on it if you appeal, and the criteria on which the other applicants were given places (how many catchment, siblings, distance, etc.). I suppose they have to in order to back their own case. We had a letter just before our appeal amending the previous information, to say that another place had been allocated to the waiting list and the distance had gone slightly further out. Not all LAs are this detailed but it helps to know that the rules have been followed, and I'm sure you are entitled to the information.

You did mention the possibility of moving - is this still an option?