Using companies who specialise in school appeals

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CEA100
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 7:01 pm

Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by CEA100 »

Our son did not achieve the pass mark for the grammar school listed as our first preference. He was however, successful in being offered a place at a grammar in a neighbouring county so although we count ourselves lucky, we are considering appealing, particularly as our daughter is already at our 1st choice school.

There seem to be lots of companies specialising in assisting parents with appeals, and they advertise high percentage success rates. Does anyone have experience of using such a company???
scary mum
Posts: 8840
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:45 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by scary mum »

I saw on another thread somewhere yesterday that this is not usually recommended - I imagine that there is something in the Appeals Q&As.
scary mum
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by Etienne »

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/general#a11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
T12ACY
Posts: 800
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:12 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by T12ACY »

Hi success rates come from 'cherry picking'. I wouldn't read much in to it and firmly believe that you stand as good a chance by yourself by fully researching the process. Of course if you can afford it then it's personal choice but a parent really does know their child best and can answer any questions more fully than an advisor.
Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by Etienne »

I agree with Tracy. I don't see how anyone can achieve a high percentage success rate without picking and choosing their cases.

Appeals are very unpredictable. The average success rate (nationally) is around 30%.
Etienne
suzanne

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by suzanne »

The evidence you can gather for the appeal is the crucial matter. The more evidence you have of academic ability the better.

I think you will find everything you need here on this forum.

It would appear to me that you might come across better at an appeal if you present your case yourself rather than bring in a solicitor.
Stocky
Posts: 391
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:12 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by Stocky »

I'm appealing (DD passed easily but school oversubscribed) and I wouldn't consider using anyone. I think if you do it yourself it is from the heart and noone can get the message across better than a parent.
lavenderhill
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:54 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by lavenderhill »

I have heard in some cases parents who are appealing take solicitors along on the day of the appeal. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not but could help in some cases where there may have been a slight injustice perceived.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by Etienne »

I doubt that a solicitor would be needed to deal with a slight injustice.

Just possibly for cases involving very complex legal issues (0.1% of appeals at a guess!).
Etienne
capers123
Posts: 1865
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 9:03 pm
Location: Gloucestershire

Re: Using companies who specialise in school appeals

Post by capers123 »

Etienne wrote:I doubt that a solicitor would be needed to deal with a slight injustice.

Just possibly for cases involving very complex legal issues (0.1% of appeals at a guess!).
I've never heard an appeal where a solicitor was there with the parents. I've heard a few where the paperwork was written by a professional appeal company including one where they were meant to attend to help out the parents, but dropped out the day before hand! In that particular case, the parents had a good case, but the professional hadn't actually managed to pick it up or put it in the docs - we got it out of the parents ourselves and they won the appeal - despite having paid.

They have all tended to over-egg the pudding, putting too much evidence in about things that really don't make a great deal of difference, but may make the parents think they've got good value.

Apart from the one aforementioned, none have been successful as far as I can remember, purely because the academic ability wasn't strong and the other appeals were more compelling. They also have a tendancy to try & highlight small sections of a school report - we read the whole thing and note that 'Johnny works hard' may be followed by 'for his ability'...

Finally, these are informal tribunals, designed for people to represent themselves. Solicitors are more used to adversorial court proceedings, and not where the 'opposition' may actually be friendly and sympathetic. Panels may well not take well to agressive presentation & questioning - it could sub-conciously affect their view of your case.

However, if you do have a very, very complex legal point, you may want to take advice - but I would say that's more likely to be needed for a permanent exclusion appeal than a grammar admission appeal.
Capers
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