Appeal for another school in Medway.

[tiredmum]

hi lacey
i live in the medway
i assume yours is an appeal against over-subscription?
I think the best way forward is to have evidence as to why the school you want is the right school for your dd.
Do the specialisms suit her - or the type of school - single gender or mixed.
Is she miserable at her other school because of bullying or length of journey?
You can use all this sort of info.
Read through the sticky "feedback" - may help you

[lacey]

Thank you for your help.
Had more information today. The letter informed me that the school is over by four and it would be against their health safety rules by having another. Surely they have already broken that rule by having the extra four. That is the schools agruement. I can't get my head around this. Why don't they stick to their numbers originally and people wouldn't waste time with these appeals. The way the wording of the letter is, I have already failed.
I know I mustn't turn up angry but I can't help feeling like they are wasting my time. The only arguement I can think of is this school is a lot better than the one she is presently in and that she as had a few problems with an ex school best friend from primary, given her grief in her current school. Also that the school bus goes pass our front door. The facilites are a lot better and the grounds are beautiful.
Its worn me out just thinking about it.

[Etienne]

Why don't they stick to their numbers originally

Probably because they had no choice in the matter!

For example, if a child is allocated a place as a result of a successful appeal, then that child has to be admitted, no matter what the school thinks.

[mitasol]

Good Luck Lacey! I know this has been a long journey for you but keep your chin up.

[tiredmum]

The only arguement I can think of is this school is a lot better than the one she is presently in and that she as had a few problems with an ex school best friend from primary, given her grief in her current school. Also that the school bus goes pass our front door. The facilites are a lot better and the grounds are beautiful.
Its worn me out just thinking about it.

You need to have all this written down for the panel and any evidence you have - will the current school back up the friendship problems she has had?

Can you think of why the particular facilities would be good for your child?

The bus goes past your house - in my over subscription appeal i provided the bus timetable as evidence for the panel - showing how easy it was for dd to get to said school.

Hwhat about her current school, is it more difficult to get to for her?

[lacey]

Thank you everyone for all your help. I have just got back from the appeal. My head is buzzing. I really don't know what to think about it all really.

I was very happy with the panel they did ask some very fair questions but I think I got more questions aim at me than the headteacher but I suppose that because I had to say my case and he only could argue on numbers.

The headteacher said he wanted to keep the numbers down to 180 and they are always well above this but appeals like this doesn't allow him too.

Apparently everyone is all squashed into together at lunchtimes especially when the weather is bad. We had to imagine 6th formers who are over six foot huddled against new year 7 who are about 3 foot. Sorry but it did make laugh maybe not the time and place for it.

I should know by the weekend apparently. I am not sure I could go through all that again. Very nervious and a very long 45 minutes.

[tiredmum]

Good luck lacey, hope it all works out for you and dc

[dutchy005]

Really good luck I am thinking of you.

I must admit what you have written does make me mad. We appealed to a GS in Essex and at the appeal the PO described the terrible overcrowding in the school. He said there were not enough lockers so only year 7s had them and then it was a lottery (literally), he described the crowding in the corridors during movement between lessons, he said there was not enough room in the restaurant so that boys had nowhere to sit . . . . . . .

Well we won and my DS started there two weeks ago and guess what: he has been given a locker which will be his for next 5 years; he says that while in a couple of places the corridors are busy between lessons there is enough room and has no sense of it not beeing safe; and so far, while the restaurant is busy he and his friends always manage to find 4 or 5 seats together whether eating in or bringing a packed lunch. The reality is quite different from that presented by the school.

I know that POs are only doing their jobs but . . . . . .

I do hope you win and that you get your answer quickly, from the bottom of my heart best wishes.

[Etienne]

I think I got more questions aimed at me than the headteacher

It does seem unfair, but it depends what the questions were. If they were just seeking clarification, that's probably fine. The panel might be very familiar with the school case, having heard it on previous occasions, whereas your case would have been new to them.

It's not unknown for panels sometimes to be criticised for the exact opposite ("they didn't ask us many questions, so they obviously weren't very interested in our case!").

Good luck!

[lacey]

Very interested in everyone replies. Now I know how it feels and understand more of what people have been talking about on this site. dutchy005 comments were very similar to ours. Etienne did you win your appeal?
I really didn't want to go but I am glad I did now whatever the outcome because I know now I gave it my best shot. I hope my replies were alright.