School placement appeal - urgent help needed

[AnilS]

Found out a couple of weeks ago that my son (13) will be going to his second choice school, which is his actual catchment school. So no real surprise. His first choice is a further mile away and he is currently in his last term at Middle school. This school actually is one of the feeder schools to his/our first choice.

His first choice has been oversubscribed, by what figure, I don't know. But speaking to those at the LEA, its been "greatly oversubscribed". 

Heres the rub. I put in an appeal. I only got my date for appeal this week. The appeal is to be held next Wednesday, which gives me little time to prepare as much as I'd like.

My son is very bright, top sets for everything and Head boy at his current school, so would be an excellent asset to this (or any) school.

The question is that I can write glowingly about his attributes but what I'm not prepared for, are the types of questions, I'm likely to face at the appeal hearing, when faced with a panel of people.

Has anyone been through this and can offer me any guidance.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Anil.

[jhtrophy]

Whether he is sen, friendship groups,ie his friends or family are there, problem with a child at other school, transport arrangments, car sharing sounds better,frienship groups is the biggest thing mate.hope it goes ok

[Ifti]

Thats what i would do as well.

Say stuff like his friends will be going there and it will enable him to settle in better.
He is a high achiever.
He will be car sharing with a friend to and from school, so travel/distance is not an issue.
If they dont take your child you will do something really nasty to all the staff.

The usual stuff.

Good luck.

[VC]

best angle is the emotional well being one, if it appears to be detrimental to your child if he doesnt go then they'll stand a much better chance.

thing is, if to give them a place means ousting someone who lives closer to the school then you'll have to be very good at your reasoning.

We had the same issue, both my mini me's go to school on the other side of the coast when in fact they should be going to school on this side, theres even a school in my village my youngest is supposed to attend.

A very well worded heartfelt letter was all it took.

just remember not to over egg it and go over the top, the process for review is very fast and they wont spend along time on it. get to the point, make sure the points are strong and valid

being top of the class wont mean a thing tbh, theyd be an asset to any school, you have to concentrate on the benefit for the child to attend not the return the child would potentially give the school, it does come into play a little but dont focus on it

[AnilS]

Thanks guys. Very useful and appreciated.

I don't think getting him in will oust anyone, it'll just increase the class size.

The difference between the two schools is down to this; the first choice has had many years of Academic excellence over our second choice and it specialises in Science and technology which my son's forte are. The second choice school specialises in Art and Drama.

In terms of accessibility, the first choice is further but walkable. That said, because of our work patterns, its not an issue for either my wife or me to drop them off.

[Edition30]

Become a complete ar(bum)sehole to society and you will get pretty much everything you need. Seems the modern way in this country.



EDIT: Good luck for the appeal