Appealing twice
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I have phoned the school, and I was asked to email the admissions lady as they were busy with GSE time tables. I have done this and I awaite a response.( I just asked her to contact me, as I will ask her for an application form)
As for Solimums question, I believe anyone can apply for 6th form at the school as long as they have the relevent grades.
Perplexed, thank you for your ecouragement, Im going for it, I will try and if we dont get in on appeal again, then at least I will have tried our best to get in. The statement from the schools prsopectus is exactly as it is in the prospectus, I copied and pasted it , and I understand what you mean about it being ambiguous, and I am reading like you are.
Ive printed out the code of practise, and will do as Etiene suggested and quote it into my letter if they refuse me an application.
As for the school being a good school, yes it is, it does very well and always meets it full quota fo applications. As for them being helpful, they havent been too bad, just I think what you suggest about not wanting it to be common knowledge about appealing for a different year group.
I will let you know the outcome of my email, and subsequent letter.
I feel as if Ive been given a new lease of life again, and more positive!!
Thanks again everyone
DM
As for Solimums question, I believe anyone can apply for 6th form at the school as long as they have the relevent grades.
Perplexed, thank you for your ecouragement, Im going for it, I will try and if we dont get in on appeal again, then at least I will have tried our best to get in. The statement from the schools prsopectus is exactly as it is in the prospectus, I copied and pasted it , and I understand what you mean about it being ambiguous, and I am reading like you are.
Ive printed out the code of practise, and will do as Etiene suggested and quote it into my letter if they refuse me an application.
As for the school being a good school, yes it is, it does very well and always meets it full quota fo applications. As for them being helpful, they havent been too bad, just I think what you suggest about not wanting it to be common knowledge about appealing for a different year group.
I will let you know the outcome of my email, and subsequent letter.
I feel as if Ive been given a new lease of life again, and more positive!!
Thanks again everyone
DM
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- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:05 pm
Best of Luck DM
Waiting for the school to answer your email must be torture!
It seems that once you have won the battle to get an appeals form, you then have to go through the appeal itself!
If only your child could secure a place based on all the effort you've put in! I will cross my fingers for you, but do wounder if you have any alternatives if an appeal is unsuccessful? My advice would be to plan for the worst (not getting a place on appeal) and hope for the best. Try and sort the issues out that your son is having - I have found Parent Partnership very good in giving advice (my D was very unhappy at her primary school, and they helped me find a solution).
I sincerely hope that your tenacity prevails.
Lottie
Waiting for the school to answer your email must be torture!
It seems that once you have won the battle to get an appeals form, you then have to go through the appeal itself!
If only your child could secure a place based on all the effort you've put in! I will cross my fingers for you, but do wounder if you have any alternatives if an appeal is unsuccessful? My advice would be to plan for the worst (not getting a place on appeal) and hope for the best. Try and sort the issues out that your son is having - I have found Parent Partnership very good in giving advice (my D was very unhappy at her primary school, and they helped me find a solution).
I sincerely hope that your tenacity prevails.
Lottie
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- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:05 pm
Thanls fro the luck Lottie, I feel I need it!
Its the end of the day, and as yet still no reply from the school about my email to them. How long should I give them before I "Pester " them again. I pick up the phone, then put it down again, "scared" they are going to think or say "Oh no not you again" I dont want to be a pain or nuisance, as I feel it may go against me in any way.
How many of you parents out there have gone from a lovely brunette to now streaks of grey. I cant believe how grey Ive gone!
DM
Its the end of the day, and as yet still no reply from the school about my email to them. How long should I give them before I "Pester " them again. I pick up the phone, then put it down again, "scared" they are going to think or say "Oh no not you again" I dont want to be a pain or nuisance, as I feel it may go against me in any way.
How many of you parents out there have gone from a lovely brunette to now streaks of grey. I cant believe how grey Ive gone!
DM
Well, if it were me, I would save some time and give up on the admissions lady contacting you. After all, you have not asked her to do anything specific by the sound of it other than ask her to phone you (unless I have misread your posting).
She could have phoned when you were out or your phone was engaged, and there is little point in her e-mailing you back to say "what do you want?" as she knows already that you want to apply and she has tried to tell you she shouldn't. She is working all day and probably hates trying to catch people at home, or wherever, on the telephone as they are never there. Also if you do just ask her for application form and appeal form, she may just repeat her interpretation of the situation, and hey presto, you have got nowhere and feel even more nervous about proceeding.
Depending on your level of bravery I would do the following:
- e-mail her again and ask her for an application form to go on the waiting list for your son's year group, and for an appeal form (but the school may not hold these)
OR
- visit the school and pick up an appeal form (but they may not stock them) and an application form to go on the school waiting list for your son's year group
OR
- get a copy of the appeal form from the local authority - it tends to be the same form for community, foundation and VA schools and probably does not matter if you did use the wrong one
OR
- devise your own request letter to go on the waiting list and appeal form. I don't think there is anything too magic about an appeal form. Send the waiting list request to the headteacher, and the appeal form to the admissions authority (appeals section at LA, or chair of governors, usually depending on type of school)
I think you are still going a bit too slowly to get anywhere, and you have left the initiative in the hands of someone who is not bothered whether you apply and appeal or not, if you see what I mean.
In your request letter to go on the waiting list for your son's year group, don't forget to mention that he passed the 11+ last year, but if he needs to be re-tested you are happy to do this (but really this seems unnecessary to me as if it is just a pass that is required, saying that you need to do another test is like saying they have no confidence that their test determines the top X% of the population)
GO FOR IT!
Good luck
She could have phoned when you were out or your phone was engaged, and there is little point in her e-mailing you back to say "what do you want?" as she knows already that you want to apply and she has tried to tell you she shouldn't. She is working all day and probably hates trying to catch people at home, or wherever, on the telephone as they are never there. Also if you do just ask her for application form and appeal form, she may just repeat her interpretation of the situation, and hey presto, you have got nowhere and feel even more nervous about proceeding.
Depending on your level of bravery I would do the following:
- e-mail her again and ask her for an application form to go on the waiting list for your son's year group, and for an appeal form (but the school may not hold these)
OR
- visit the school and pick up an appeal form (but they may not stock them) and an application form to go on the school waiting list for your son's year group
OR
- get a copy of the appeal form from the local authority - it tends to be the same form for community, foundation and VA schools and probably does not matter if you did use the wrong one
OR
- devise your own request letter to go on the waiting list and appeal form. I don't think there is anything too magic about an appeal form. Send the waiting list request to the headteacher, and the appeal form to the admissions authority (appeals section at LA, or chair of governors, usually depending on type of school)
I think you are still going a bit too slowly to get anywhere, and you have left the initiative in the hands of someone who is not bothered whether you apply and appeal or not, if you see what I mean.
In your request letter to go on the waiting list for your son's year group, don't forget to mention that he passed the 11+ last year, but if he needs to be re-tested you are happy to do this (but really this seems unnecessary to me as if it is just a pass that is required, saying that you need to do another test is like saying they have no confidence that their test determines the top X% of the population)
GO FOR IT!
Good luck
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- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:05 pm
Well thankyou Perplexed for that well needed "Shove" Ive done it, Ive written my letter and posted it. I did try and phone again today but she wasnt available this afternoon. I will now await her reply, I also sent the Head the same letter, as he sits in on appeal hearings so I felt he should have a copy too.
I will let you know the outcome.
Thanks very much
DM
I will let you know the outcome.
Thanks very much
DM
DM
I've been following your thread with interest and for what it's worth, I think you have done the right thing. Sometimes situations have to be forced a bit to get things done and I'm sure all this uncertainty is doing you and your family no good at all. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Go Girl! (as my DD would say)
Good Luck!
Lulu
I've been following your thread with interest and for what it's worth, I think you have done the right thing. Sometimes situations have to be forced a bit to get things done and I'm sure all this uncertainty is doing you and your family no good at all. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Go Girl! (as my DD would say)
Good Luck!
Lulu
Hi DM
I have been through exactly the same as you, and you seem to be very similar to me - feelings of being a 'pest'.
I too waited in all day by the phone (even taking it in the bathroom when I had a shower!) waiting for that 'promised' phone call - that never came!!
It's true what perplexed says, usually the call you await is to be made by someone who doesn't really understand your total desparation! I bet you have felt like calling them up and saying 'do you realize that i've waited in all day, just for you to call?!'
I am the sort of person who feels embarrassed when forced to be 'pushy', but i got advice from another member who was always telling me to call this person or that department, and it helped me make the calls which were needed.
From this point onwards........
be a PUSHY MOM, stay polite, concise and calm (don't sound apologetic all the time). Think that who ever you are calling 'again' that if they were in your situation they would most likely be calling all the time too!
Best wishes
Lottie
I have been through exactly the same as you, and you seem to be very similar to me - feelings of being a 'pest'.
I too waited in all day by the phone (even taking it in the bathroom when I had a shower!) waiting for that 'promised' phone call - that never came!!
It's true what perplexed says, usually the call you await is to be made by someone who doesn't really understand your total desparation! I bet you have felt like calling them up and saying 'do you realize that i've waited in all day, just for you to call?!'
I am the sort of person who feels embarrassed when forced to be 'pushy', but i got advice from another member who was always telling me to call this person or that department, and it helped me make the calls which were needed.
From this point onwards........
be a PUSHY MOM, stay polite, concise and calm (don't sound apologetic all the time). Think that who ever you are calling 'again' that if they were in your situation they would most likely be calling all the time too!
Best wishes
Lottie
Lottie
You are absolutely right! I think sometimes we worry too much about being perceived as "pushy parents". At the end of the day though, you have to fight for your children as no one else is going to. If things don't work out as you would have liked at least you will know that you did everything that you possibly could have rather than kicking yourself about that phone call you never made or that letter you didn't write.
Best of luck DM - I really hope everything works out OK for you and your son.
You are absolutely right! I think sometimes we worry too much about being perceived as "pushy parents". At the end of the day though, you have to fight for your children as no one else is going to. If things don't work out as you would have liked at least you will know that you did everything that you possibly could have rather than kicking yourself about that phone call you never made or that letter you didn't write.
Best of luck DM - I really hope everything works out OK for you and your son.