Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not 11+

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Helen82
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:42 pm

Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not 11+

Post by Helen82 »

Hi all,
This is my first post so hello to everyone and I hope I can get some opinions as I may be about to enter the appeals process for my daughter.

Our 1st preference was Brighouse High School and 2nd Hipperholme & Lightcliffe. We have been offered our 2nd place. I have requested a re allocation with view to lodging an appeal if we don't get a place.

My daughter has OCD and anxiety related issues and has had a CAMHS therapist since age 7. We did consider a statutory assessment for a SEN but both the school and i felt she probably wouldn't quite make all of the strict criteria and so the school, CAMHS, a private tutor and I have been managing the issues and she just about chasing her expected age related targets which is quite a come back from a few years ago.
We are not in a feeder school for our first choice however we live the same distance away from our 2nd choice. We selected our 1st choice as it is a consistently high achieving school with good support for those with special learning needs. The reports comment on how those who struggle are extremely well support especially those with learning issues. It is also a business and enterprise specialist academy and my daughter has had a keen interest in business since a young age, she is quite entrepreneurial!!

The school we have been offered has for the 3rd time in a year failed its Ofsted and is in 'special measures'. The overview of the report is that the teaching is weak and inconsistent, those who are bright are unchallenged and those who struggle are unsupported. Those with learning needs are not supported enough and the teaching is straight down the middle. The headteacher has resigned and there are 19 teachers about to leave!! So I don't think its about to improve anytime soon!!

Our 1st choice school is also on route to my daughters dance school (attended since age 2) which she would travel with after school on most nights with other dance frielnd students.

Our 1st choice school usually admits 210 pupils however in 2014 they agreed 20 extra allocations plus 4 appeals, so they made room for an extra 24! They have only admitted 210 this year so I am thinking that I can question why they are unable to admit extra this year.

In short my case is this:
*1st choice is suitable to my daughters individual learning needs
*Issues with allocated school in special measures and how that will affect her learning needs
*1st choice specialism in business, DD has great passion for this.
*1st choice admitted extra last year
* Logistics at the end of school to her dance school

Evidence: CAHMS therapist has agreed to write a letter of support and be at the appeal if necessary. Headteacher will write support letter and appear at appeal.

What does everyone think? Do I stand a chance? are My arguments valid?

I moved this to appeal for you and edited out your DDs name.
Tinkers.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Etienne »

Welcome to the forum! :)
Helen82 wrote:Our 1st choice school usually admits 210 pupils however in 2014 they agreed 20 extra allocations plus 4 appeals, so they made room for an extra 24! They have only admitted 210 this year so I am thinking that I can question why they are unable to admit extra this year.
The extra 20 could be a good point, as it's something they chose to do.

However, they had no choice in admitting the 4 appellants.
*1st choice is suitable to my daughters individual learning needs
Have you had a meeting with the SenCo at the school in question to discuss your daughter's needs and how they might help? (This might impress an appeal panel.)
*1st choice specialism in business, DD has great passion for this.
Hope you have evidence to support this.
*1st choice admitted extra last year
This shouldn't be part of your own case. It's a question you should put when the school's case is being discussed.
* Logistics at the end of school to her dance school
I'd only mention this very briefly. To be honest, I don't think an appeal panel would give 'convenience' all that much weight.
Evidence: CAHMS therapist has agreed to write a letter of support and be at the appeal if necessary. Headteacher will write support letter and appear at appeal.
Good!
Do I stand a chance? are My arguments valid?
I doubt anyone can tell you what your chances are. It depends to some extent on factors outside your control - how strong a case the school puts forward to resist further admissions. how many other appellants there are, how strong a case they themselves are putting forward.
See:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But yes, you do have a case worthy of consideration, especially if there is plenty of evidence as to why this particular school would be best for your daughter's needs.

Do read the Q&As if you haven't already done so:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/general" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... bed-school" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
Helen82
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:42 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Helen82 »

Thank you Etienne! :)

I have been researching and gathering evidence to try prove why the school is ideal for my DD needs. Our 1st choice school has rather a lot of info on their website regarding how they prepare and deal with SEN where as our 2nd choice has nothing. The meeting with the SenCo is a very good point and one which I am going to look into. Unfortunately we haven't had a meeting before we have got to this stage so I hope its something that they would still be prepared to discuss now that allocations are out.

I am not sure what evidence we can use for my DD passion for business. My husband and I are both self employed and have discussed all things business with our children from a young age. DD took a very strong interest and over the years has developed her own little business's, she is selling phone cases right now to her friends!! It is something that I have discussed at school before so perhaps evidence could come through a letter from them. It seems that profit and loss makes much more sense than addition and subtraction.

I will definitely be using their admission increase last year as a questioning point although I guess they will expect the challenge. Its not information that is readily available however, its through my own Sherlock Holmes work that I found out! :idea:

I have until the 31st March for reallocation and then if nothing happens its steam ahead for appeal!!

aaarghh!!
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Guest55 »

Specialisms don't exist any more so I would not labour that point ...
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Etienne »

Guest55 wrote:Specialisms don't exist any more so I would not labour that point ...
G55 is right that the extra funding has dried up, but during questions to the school you could ask whether they still have a strong business studies department. The answer is likely to be 'Yes'.
The expertise they've built up, and additional resources, are probably still there!

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
Helen82
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:42 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Helen82 »

Glad that was pointed out though! I was actually still under the impression it was a business specialist school. it must a recent change. however Etienne you are right, the skills don't just disappear because the funding does! :)
Rags
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:43 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Rags »

Helen82 wrote: I am not sure what evidence we can use for my DD passion for business. My husband and I are both self employed and have discussed all things business with our children from a young age. DD took a very strong interest and over the years has developed her own little business's, she is selling phone cases right now to her friends!!
Does she have spreadsheets, profit/expenses lists, etc from her business? I would consider that evidence. (They might...)
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Guest55 »

Etienne wrote:
Guest55 wrote:Specialisms don't exist any more so I would not labour that point ...
G55 is right that the extra funding has dried up, but during questions to the school you could ask whether they still have a strong business studies department. The answer is likely to be 'Yes'.
The expertise they've built up, and additional resources, are probably still there!

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Except that some schools applied for the funding to build up weak departments - so a specialism didn't indicate a strength ...
Helen82
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:42 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Helen82 »

Rags wrote:
Helen82 wrote: I am not sure what evidence we can use for my DD passion for business. My husband and I are both self employed and have discussed all things business with our children from a young age. DD took a very strong interest and over the years has developed her own little business's, she is selling phone cases right now to her friends!!
Does she have spreadsheets, profit/expenses lists, etc from her business? I would consider that evidence. (They might...)
Yes she does have spreadsheets etc so I will collate these together. Thanks!
Guest55 wrote:
Etienne wrote:
Guest55 wrote:Specialisms don't exist any more so I would not labour that point ...
G55 is right that the extra funding has dried up, but during questions to the school you could ask whether they still have a strong business studies department. The answer is likely to be 'Yes'.
The expertise they've built up, and additional resources, are probably still there!

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Except that some schools applied for the funding to build up weak departments - so a specialism didn't indicate a strength ...
They were specialist since 2002 and quite well known for the strength so I think in this case wouldn't be considered a weak department. But well pointed out!
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not

Post by Guest55 »

Is there anything from the last Ofsted for the school you want that would indicate the effectiveness of the SEN support? What about their 'local offer' on the website; anything worth quoting ...?
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