High schools appeal help

[staniulyte]

Hello all,

We applied for High School and got an email today with a choice we didn?t even apply for unfortunately. Sydenham school although it doesn?t seem to be a bad school. It?s a girls only school which we really did not want. Our first choice was Kinsdale.

Would anyone be able to help me with how the appeals process works and what would be best to say?

Thank you for all your help.

[goldilocks]

Do you feel that the applications process wasn't correctly followed or do you believe there is some overarching reason that the schools you've selected would meet her needs in a way that Sydenham wouldn't. Not getting the school you wanted isn't enough of a reason to appeal on its own.

You should however make sure that you're on the wait list of the schools you'd want, and any others you'd prefer now that offers have been made. Southwark automatically adds you to the wait list of all higher schools on your list and then the schools manage the list.

You should accept the school for now and then hope that a place comes up somewhere you prefer. There is always lots of waiting list movement.

Final point is that I have a friend with 2 daughters at Sydenham and they love it. Loads of clubs and societies, debating, music etc. Maybe see if you can go and visit?

[oimissus]

You should talk to your daughter's current headteacher, they will be able to advise you as to whether an appeal is appropriate and how to approach it if it is. You should also contact either your local authority or the schools in question to see where you are on the waiting lists. Remember that Kingsdale is a lottery and also banded. There will be a lot of movement between now and September.

We looked (and applied for) Sydenham School, we were pretty impressed.

[oimissus]

And yes - you must accept the school you've been given. If you don't then the local authority do not have to provide you with a place.

And see if you can have a look around Sydenham if you haven't already.

[Sol]

Sydenham school is a good school and I know girls who are very happy there.

[Pugwash]

Both of my daughters went to Sydenham Girls and went onto university - one is a teacher and the other an occupational therapist.

[Al_Gardener]

My understanding for appeals is that you can appeal based on:

1. Some form of error in terms of criteria not being followed (ie your distance has not being measured correctly, your sibling priority has been missed etc). You need to check the criteria of the schools and see where and why you think a mistake was made (and where that would mean your child would get a place)

2. You need to show that the detriment to the school taking your child as extra would be less than the detriment to your child of not attending that school. It can't as Ii understand it be Ofsted related, but can be related to needs of your child so outside of the normal application criteria.

I'm not an expert by any means, just what I have picked up reading online. Mumsnet has some good posters on the appeal topic, and I thought there used to be someone from the council who used to post here who dealt with admissions?

[staniulyte]

If you know of anyone that would be able to help

Fill in an appeals form please could you reach out. Happy to pay!

[alethea]

Did you put any other single sex schools on your, application? May seem like an obvious question, but would make a difference to your appeal.

It is also worth noting that it is the school that makes the decision not the council.

I did go through an appeal with my son and most of the concerns and arguments are based on safety, health and well being.

You must explain why you feel single sex education will not work for your daughter with evidence if possible.

But do not focus on just this element as you have to be clear why only your choice of schools offer what other co Ed schools can't. For example if your primary choice is not the closest, there is nothing to say that you couldn't approach another co Ed school closer with spaces.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi staniulyte

your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list for the ?6 schools on your original application form. There will be movement on those waiting lists over the next weeks and months and she may then secure a place at one of the schools you applied for. Kingsdale operates a lottery system and places are allocated randomly there. Your local authority should be able to inform you of the position of your child on the waiting lists of the schools you applied to. As Al-Gardener pointed out grounds for appeal was if something had been done incorrectly in the application process or if there were reasons that no other school would be suitable for your child eg on medical grounds. You can ask your local authority to place your child on the waiting list of schools you didn't apply for in the initial application process. Very few appeals are won as the criteria to uphold an appeal are very stringent.

Renata