Appealing for an oversubscribed school

[Etienne]

I would be interested to know whether a very high VRT score from an out-of-area applicant (e.g. 135+ in Bucks) would have any bearing on a transfer appeal outcome.

It's possible, because an appeal panel is not bound by the admission criteria, but can consider any arguments. If the basis of the case is academic/educational, it would be important to relate it to the grammar school being appealed for, rather than "a grammar school". For example, if the specialist status of the particular grammar school happened to be science ....... and the child had a VRTS of 141 in Bucks, was on the G&T register for science, and the primary school confirmed that s/he wanted to become a scientist ........ it could amount to quite a good case.

Whether it might succeed, however, would depend on other factors, such as the strength of the case put forward by the grammar school, and indeed the strength of other appellants' cases.

I note your comments that 'an appeal panel is not bound by the admission criteria, but can consider any arguments'. Is this the same for any school?

Yes, I think so. When considering an appeal for an oversubscribed school, assuming the panel accepts that the school has a case, there is only one criterion: does the prejudice to the child of not being admitted outweigh the prejudice to the school of an extra pupil? It seems to me that parents must be free to put forward any reasons that they consider compelling for needing a place at the oversubscribed school.

Please follow link at top of page, and see section C36 of the Appeal Q&As, version 3 (or section C2, if version 4 has appeared ).

Regards