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Secondary education

Year 8 in year appeals

5 replies

happychappy · 19/08/2014 05:34

Long story but we had to move and when I rang around suitable schools in the possible towns we told there was a place for my son who is due to start year 8 in September.
We had to wait for DD to finish GCSE's and the place has gone. Bugger
Now they say no places in the town.
has to go to next town which they say is walking distance (down a busy country road) and we have to pay for him to go to a school which will involve 25 minutes of walking and a bus or train.
Also his sister won't be there and he will have no opportunity to make local friends.
The school doesn't seems to be into the subjects he is good at (art and sport, yes he is dyslexic)
I am really worried about the friend side, the getting lost part, and the being impossible for me to drop everything should he lose his stuff (100% probability of happening) and not being able to get home.
Also worried he will lose what little interest he has in school given the subjects that keep him there are not really a big thing at the offered school. School has long been a big issue since his first teachers called him all kinds of names (lady, manipulative etc) for not reaching expected targets. We have worked really hard to change his attitude to education and we seemed to have turned a corner. Hoping not to throw that all away.

This has all happened since term finished and there is noone to speak to at the offered school to allay my fears. He is unsettled and I am pissed. We know noone in the new town and don't even know our way around properly (I keep getting lost; I am dyslexic too).

Looking at the appeal form but not really sure how to approach it. Advice would be most welcome.

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tiggytape · 19/08/2014 09:13

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happychappy · 21/08/2014 06:52

Thank you, doing my research now.

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happychappy · 21/08/2014 07:01

so the local school does a special coaching program for those who want to pursue a career in sport and do the two sports he excels at. one of which he play for county for.

The other school does neither sport and doesn't seem to do very much with it from the website.

yeah


The information on the senco support is vague. understandably. need more research on that.

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IDontDoIroning · 21/08/2014 07:11

Younger sib got a place older didn't so appealed.
You have to argue that the child is predujiced more by non admission than the school by admission.
There are books on amazon.
Luckily for us it was only that year and year 11 that were full. Overall the school had over 50 places free and forecast was that the large yr 11 was going to be replaced by a much smaller year 6 intake in the following September. Also it was an increase of 1 place in that school year.
Also argued the sibling thing and transport (wasn't such an issue as you).

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appealtakingovermylife · 21/08/2014 07:41

I highly recommend the Ben rooney book "how to win your school appeal"
I'm reading it again now as it seems we may get a re-appeal.
Our case is currently with the EFA who handle complaints about appeals to academies.
Under the appeals code the panel have to take into account "what the appeal school can offer that the allocated school cannot" so focus on the school you want and tailor it to your ds needs.
Good luck:)

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