Don't ever give up...
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:06 pm
Having read the sad posts recently, I would like to say to everyone who has an appeal yet to come - please don't give up.
We felt we didn't have a strong case, in fact the only reason we decided to go through with it was that it would make our case to take the 12+ stronger. The Appeal Panel grilled us thoroughly (and considerately) - my biggest fear had been that they would tell us our case was awful!! I felt that I kept on saying, "I'm sorry, I don't know". However, we did the best we could and provided as much information as we could.
Dissecting the Appeal afterwards - as you do - I thought that we had totally blown it! The LEA man told us, as we were waiting outside afterwards, that we had sold our son short - we should have emphasised his G&T! Then the Legal clerk refused to make eye contact when he returned our papers.
However, we were successful (the letter really did say 'pleased' and 'successful'!!) I still can't believe it!
So, please don't give up - the panel will ask penetrating questions, but they are human (they told us that if we needed a break at any time they would stop for us). And, of course the very best of luck.
We felt we didn't have a strong case, in fact the only reason we decided to go through with it was that it would make our case to take the 12+ stronger. The Appeal Panel grilled us thoroughly (and considerately) - my biggest fear had been that they would tell us our case was awful!! I felt that I kept on saying, "I'm sorry, I don't know". However, we did the best we could and provided as much information as we could.
Dissecting the Appeal afterwards - as you do - I thought that we had totally blown it! The LEA man told us, as we were waiting outside afterwards, that we had sold our son short - we should have emphasised his G&T! Then the Legal clerk refused to make eye contact when he returned our papers.
However, we were successful (the letter really did say 'pleased' and 'successful'!!) I still can't believe it!
So, please don't give up - the panel will ask penetrating questions, but they are human (they told us that if we needed a break at any time they would stop for us). And, of course the very best of luck.