Appeal for an oversubscribed place - Sally Anne

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Lassie
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Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:49 pm

Appeal for an oversubscribed place - Sally Anne

Post by Lassie »

Sally Anne - you say if we go to appeal we'll need the support of our primary head - is this the case even if you are appealing for an oversubscribed place? What can they add to the mix that would help in this instance?
Sally-Anne
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Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Hi Lassie

The Head's support is very important for a Selection Appeal, if it can possibly be obtained.

It can also be useful for an appeal against over-subscription, although it is not essential.

Many of the grounds for an over-subscription appeal - special needs, family circumstances, particular talents, etc - will carry more weight if there is written evidence, and a letter from a Head teacher who knows the child well could be stronger evidence than just unsupported assertions made by parents at an Appeal.

Sally-Anne
Lassie
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Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:49 pm

Post by Lassie »

Thanks Sally Anne, it seems to go against the grain really. If you appeal and you have support and you can generally get your message across that your child needs that school it's great. But the admissions code is clear it cannot ask for headteachers reports, or any other supportive evidence in the general admissions but if you appeal you have the opportunity to make your case.
Not quite sure I see this to be fair?
capers123
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Location: Gloucestershire

Post by capers123 »

Lassie wrote:Thanks Sally Anne, it seems to go against the grain really. If you appeal and you have support and you can generally get your message across that your child needs that school it's great. But the admissions code is clear it cannot ask for headteachers reports, or any other supportive evidence in the general admissions but if you appeal you have the opportunity to make your case.
Not quite sure I see this to be fair?
The LEA/admission authority can only work with black and white matters: Is the child 'looked after', does it have a statement of needs, how far from the school does it live, has it qualified if the school is selective, is there space in the school according to the PAN.

Anything can be submitted to an appeal panel as evidence, including fuzzy things: how much was the entrance exam score affected by my child being poorly, how much did great uncle Bert dying affect the child, did the teachers expect the child to pass. Appeals are to make the 'unfair' of the admissions code 'fair' in exceptional circumstances.
Capers
Etienne
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Post by Etienne »

Capers is right. With co-ordinated arrangements, the admissions process is already quite complicated. From a practical point of view, it has to be a clinical exercise based on objective rules.

Only 3.7% or so of admissions go to appeal. There is then the opportunity to weigh up all the arguments.
Etienne
Lassie
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Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:49 pm

Post by Lassie »

Thanks for all your replies, very much appreciated. The system seems to have so many anomalies. it's hard to know whether it's worth going through the stress of an appeal.
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