Academy Appeal

Consult our experts on 11 Plus appeals or any other type of school appeal

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Mumoftwochildren
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:27 am

Academy Appeal

Post by Mumoftwochildren »

I am getting ahead of myself here but I like to be prepared and am panicking already. My daughter will be starting secondary school next year so I need to apply this coming Sept/Oct. We have been to visit four local schools and have chosen them already.

Our first choice is a Church of England Academy. They run a points based system for admission. We are Catholic which has the lowest points available as there are many Catholic places available in the City. We could get a form signed by our priest as we do attend weekly. People with identical scores are then done on distance. Going on the last few years some with this score got in and some didn't. We are 1.6miles away but going on the last few years the places stopped at around 1.5miles.

Our second choice is also an Academy which we are out of catchment for.

Our third choice is a Catholic school that my daughter attends a feeder school for so a place here is almost guaranteed.

I am very keen to get her into the first choice school for a number of reasons. Her best friend has a brother there so she will likely get in. My daughter struggles socially and only has this girl as her friend. She is waiting to go on a self-esteem course arranged by the SENCO. Going on the past few years 90% go to the Catholic school. My daughter is very musical and this school specialises in music.

I would like to know if my daughter didn't get in if it would be worth my while appealing and on what grounds could I use. Also is it worth me putting about her social issues on the form when the school doesn't seem to list any special needs/issues on their admission criteria.

Thanks in advance
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Academy Appeal

Post by Etienne »

Welcome!
is it worth me putting about her social issues on the form when the school doesn't seem to list any special needs/issues on their admission criteria.
An appeal panel is free to consider any arguments you wish to put forward for wanting a place.
would be worth my while appealing
You could enquire about the previous success rate for appeals:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/general#a39" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ultimately, though, it's up to your particular appeal panel to decide on the strength of your case.
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and on what grounds could I use.
The ones you've mentioned - but they ought to be backed up with strong evidence.

See also:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
Mumoftwochildren
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:27 am

Re: Academy Appeal

Post by Mumoftwochildren »

Thank you for replying so quickly. I didn't know if my reasons would be strong enough reasons for an appeal.

Hopefully she will get a place and I won't need to appeal at all.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Academy Appeal

Post by Etienne »

Mumoftwochildren wrote:I didn't know if my reasons would be strong enough reasons for an appeal.
Difficult to say because it is all 'relative'. It depends on:
    • * How strong a case the admission authority puts forward to resist further admissions.
      * (Probably) how strong a case the other appellants have.
      * How strict the appeal panel is in exercising its judgement.

      http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
drummer
Posts: 529
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:47 pm
Location: South Bucks

Re: Academy Appeal

Post by drummer »

I just want to try and allay your fears a little about your daughter possibly going to a school without her best friend.

I have a daughter who is EXTREMELY anxious and I was VERY worried about the transition to secondary school (and so was she). I and our primary school SENCO spoke to the secondary school's SENCO before she started so that they could be aware BUT it could not have gone better (and the SENCOs didn't have to do anything special). And all the schools I am familiar with do a lot to help the transition.

Also, best friends (even the strongest, apparently life-long best friends) in primary school simply may not remain best friends in secondary school with lots of new people and completely new social dynamics. The best friend may not be in the same class etc. And that can be even more devastating to the child who finds their 'best friend' moving away from them or making new friends.

I really really wouldn't choose a school on this basis and I would spend time reassuring your child that she will make new friends and that everyone will be in the same situation as her.
ToadMum
Posts: 11946
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Academy Appeal

Post by ToadMum »

drummer wrote:I just want to try and allay your fears a little about your daughter possibly going to a school without her best friend.

I have a daughter who is EXTREMELY anxious and I was VERY worried about the transition to secondary school (and so was she). I and our primary school SENCO spoke to the secondary school's SENCO before she started so that they could be aware BUT it could not have gone better (and the SENCOs didn't have to do anything special). And all the schools I am familiar with do a lot to help the transition.

Also, best friends (even the strongest, apparently life-long best friends) in primary school simply may not remain best friends in secondary school with lots of new people and completely new social dynamics. The best friend may not be in the same class etc. And that can be even more devastating to the child who finds their 'best friend' moving away from them or making new friends.

I really really wouldn't choose a school on this basis and I would spend time reassuring your child that she will make new friends and that everyone will be in the same situation as her.
I would second that! DD started Yr7 last September at a school that we had not even listed on our CAF, and although she was originally one of 5 from her primary allocated to that school, in the end she was the only one who actually went there (although one boy was still officially there come September, but never actually went). Her primary school best friend got a place at a semi-selective school several miles away in the opposite direction. Occasionally, DD gets a text to say that "PSBF" saw her waiting at the bus stop as she went past on the bus on the opposite side of the road that morning :(

But they are still friends, and still meet up and skype each other. DD was actually glad that none of the other DC from her primary school went with her to secondary - they were none of them particular friends of hers and I think she worried that others would expect her to want to be with them, especially as the secondary school intake consists mainly of large groups from Yr6 at 3 primary schools the other side of town from us. She now has a new group of friends, and they all also meet up and skype etc. Awkward moment one weekend in town with both PSBF and SSBF when DD felt that they were going to go off without her, but it all came out in the wash, so to speak...

DS1 went up to GS with only one other boy from his primary, not a particular friend either. He now seems to keep up via Facebook with kids from primary I never even thought he was friend with either :lol:
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
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