Failed appeal for Parmiter's

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toony
Posts: 111
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:09 pm

Failed appeal for Parmiter's

Post by toony »

We heard today that both of our appeals for our twins had been unsuccessful. :cry:

Whilst we are very happy now with our allocated school (Queens') I'm also very sad as we will now have 7 years of getting our children to a school 8 miles away, which will not be easy for us as working parents.

We felt (as probably most parents do) that we had good grounds for appeal. Our reasons for each child were very different, one academic the other social/medical.

However I was clear from the outset that it was not going to be easy to win an appeal for this school as only a couple seem to be upheld each year.

Do we, as parents, have any right to know how many were upheld and any details of why these cases were successful and ours was not?

On the bright side my daughter said 'that's okay-I really like Queens' when I told her. My son doesn't seem so sure at the moment - he is much more reserved and is terrified he will get detentions-he is NEVER told off at school so I can't think he will have much to be worried about!

I know we are much luckier than many parents this year who have not received any of their 'preferences', even after all this time on the CI list.

Anyone else heard?
Bougalou
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:23 am

Post by Bougalou »

Commiserations Toony, have been looking out for your and Watdad's news on Parmiters. Queens however sound a good option, and hopefully your daughter's enthusiasm will rub off on your son eventually.
Glad you feel it's still a positive outcome
All the best to all of you
Bougalou
laid back son worried mum
Posts: 4083
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:18 am

Post by laid back son worried mum »

Imageabout your news, toony.

You've done we11 to go through it for both your children.

It's good you have a school you are happy with, albeit more tricky logistica11y.

Keep we11 and give yourself a treat for doing a difficult job (or two :wink: )
tense
Posts: 679
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:02 pm
Location: Herts

Post by tense »

I'm sorry, I know you had your heart set on Parmiter's. But you're clearly feeling positive about Queens and that's great.

Don't worry about the journey - plenty of kids do it & it is often the best part of their day (was for me!). This time next year you'll wonder why you worried about it!

T x
watdad
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:13 pm

Post by watdad »

Ditto, failed :(

Bit gutted not cos of Queens, Son and Wife V.happy :D but I just don’t get the process in the Watford area! Feel like I need closure :?

Would like to hear of any successful cases and on what grounds. Will post on another thread later perhaps we can help others even it is is too late for us.

Still I had two Schools to choose from and two further cracks at an appeal, not bad when you only three option normally in Watford

Ps Letter gone in to Head at Ricky stating reasons why we have refused a place with a copy to ombudsman. Your not top of CI list are you Toony :?:
toony
Posts: 111
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:09 pm

Post by toony »

No we are not but I know the mum who is and she got a call from Ricky last night!

She is quite happy as her son has FC, although she did say that they are now used to the idea of him going there.

However her boy was happy at the news so she will almost certainly accept the place.

I did say you had asked to look round - she is going to ask too!


I too would love to hear from anyone who has successfully appealed for Parmiter's. I know that Parmiter's has far less of a problem with overcrowding or resources than say a school like Ricky and yet fewer appeals are successful at Parmiter's. There just doesn't seem any rhyme or reason to it. :roll:
watdad
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:13 pm

Post by watdad »

They won't have my rejection yet so there is at least one more space to allocate.

I will PM you the letter I sent to them...
Beano
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 6:41 am
Location: Herts

Post by Beano »

Hard luck both of you, but I'm sure your kids will be happy at Queens.

IIRC, neither Toony's twins or Watdad's son were high up on the waiting lists, so you must have known that success on academic grounds was a long shot. But surprised to hear that medical / social for Toony's son didn't swing it - I'd have thought this would be the only kind of grounds for appeal that stood a chance.

But you've both done as much as you can for your kids - surely this will have to be the "closure" you're after Watdad?
Sam's Mum
Posts: 181
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:58 pm

Post by Sam's Mum »

Sorry that neither of you were successful but, looking on the bright side, at least the decision has been made now and your children can look forward with certainty to their new schools. It's been such a long journey that I'm sure, when you've had time to gather your thoughts, you'll just be glad it's all over.

Best wishes to you and your DC.
watdad
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:13 pm

Post by watdad »

Beano

Your position on the list is not taken into account at an appeal and that wasn’t the basis of my appeal. The basis was on what WGSB & Parmiters could offer that my allocated school (FC) could not.

Spanish is a second language in our home my Wife is Spanish WGSB has a specialism in language and is the ONLY school which teaches the subject from year 7. There are other factors with my Son going to Theatre training, WGSB being the only school with its own Theatre. He has a gift for Art and has been selected two years running now to attend an art college for gifted children and he has also won Science award, WGSB has a specialism in science and has access to the girl’s school which has a specilism in visual arts.

Whilst Parmiters does not have a specilism in languages it does teach it from year 8 so our appeal for both schools was similar. Trust me I was not stupid enough to sit there and say my son is a 5a pupil and needs to go to a good school!

Something is peculiar about the process in Watford and I do not yet understand what it is. It is too late for me but the nature of this board is we try to help each other. If I can pass on my experiences and help somebody be successful next year that will be closure for me

Toony

I can only imagine pupils are leaving as a result of successful appeals elsewhere and they are backfilling from the list. I would have thought they would be well over PAN with 3 or 4 successful appeals, perhaps they can’t count those in their intake…

Whereabouts are you now on the list? You might yet get in! Having witnessed some of the behaviours would you still accept Ricky? I genuinely do feel Queens is currently the better school but I appreciate you have problems with travel. We are lucky in the sense that the Queens bus more or less stops outside our house!

Good luck and maybe we will bump into each other at the school one day!
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