The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I am going to the appeal next week for Rosie's secondary school choice. Her teachers have recommended that she would do very well at a specialist arts school which is 5 miles away and just over the county boundary in Northamptonshire. Predictably, she was placed at the local secondary, which wouldn't be the end of the world, but I'd prefer her to go to the arts school if possible. The appeal was due to be held (both stages) next Wednesday at 2pm, but the latest correspondence says that they have now split the two stages and I will need to attend the first bit on Tuesday morning and the 2nd part on Wednesday afternoon Her teacher has written an absolutely brilliant letter of appeal and I also enclosed a copy of her last report. The ex (as he isn't attending the appeal ) has been tasked with doing some number crunching (which he hasn't doen yet!) to see how many people assigned to that school end up not taking their place for various reasons. Does anyone on here have any experience of appeals or pearls of wisdom that they can share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 None whatsoever here I'm afraid, but wish you the best of luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 No use here But wanted to say Good luck We appealed myplace when I was younger and got in. I'm really glad we made the effort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 No pearls of wisdom, I'm afraid, only a disappointment as we went to appeal to try to get Tom into a secondary school across the border as they had a good record against bullying and the school in our catchment area didn't and for a special needs child, that seemed like an important issue. We were still turned down though on the grounds of our distance from the school - a matter of a few metres outside their catchment area . If you have good references and her teachers actually recommend that she attends that particular school, you may swing it though, Clare, as Rosie's case is different as it's a specialist school. It's not the most pleasant of experiences and can be pretty stressful but have all your paperwork ready and talk them into it! Good luck ! Oh yes, and if you don't happen to get in for any reason, make sure you get on their waiting list in case some children leave and keep badgering them to see if any places come up - a friend of mine did this and it worked after she was initially turned down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Sorry no advice but just wanted to say good luck for next week Will be sending lots of good vibes your way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Have you checked what the specialist school ACTUALLY do for their specialism. In my experience there are not necessarily more opportunities WITHIN the school they are often more to do with supporting local primaries, the wider community etc. I worked in a school with Maths & Computing and I did a LOT of the specialist school stuff - none of which was actually for pupils within the school! HOWEVER in that school the arts departments were amazing and offered far better opportunities than any of the schools around. School I@m in now is Business and Enterprise - which means all kids do business studies right from year 7 but there are not any better opportunities for enterprise etc than I've seen elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks for your support guys. Rosie is happy about whichever school she ends up at, although she really liked the one we are appealing for. I have been scouring t'internet for advice on appeals, but there's not a busting lot out there. None of this is helped by her Dad opting out of anything to do with the secondary school procedure. However, he is a journalist and also a whizz with figures, so I have asked (read 'told') him to get on with some number crunching to see if he can come up with any stats to convince them; I have been told that this school has quite a few students not taking up their places to go to public and other schools. Phil has been brilliant and is taking time out of his current project to come along with me next week as also feels that it is important that she has two people representing her. Edit, just seen your post Pengy - they are a specialst arts school, with a fantastic department for written, performed and visual arts, they also have an award winning art gallery. Thanks for that nugget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 We looked into all this when our son was allocated a place at the local secondary but had passed for the grammar school. Fortunately we asked for the grammar to be re- considered because it was second on our list in case he didn't pass and he got in then From what we could tell, a lot of it is down to who is on the panel that day. One thing that we were told is just state your case calmly using facts and figures and not too much emotion and on no account come accross as bossy or aggressive. Best of luck with it all. Just remembered there is a book called 'How to Win Your School Appeal' by Ben Rooney which we were recommended to buy when we were doing all this. I think that WHSmiths probably have it. Might be worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks Liz, I'll go down to WHS on Saturday and see if they have a copy I can browse through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Was going to say that I noticed a book advertised on Amazon about school appeals the other day - but checking it out in WHS first is probably a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 We moved house to get ES into a good school, however thats not for everyone. GMTV at the time had a guy on called Ben Rooney whose written a book as he had to appeal for his son. I'm sure you'll find it if u google it. A friendwho was friendly with one of the board said parents have to "sell " thier child but hysteria and begging ( no I'm sure u wouldn't) do not work. Also many parents threatened all sorts. A friend didnt get her son into school of choice and she is still angry 2 yrs later even thou hes doing well and an up and coming school. Its like opening a can of worms - parent against parent. Very Good lukc to you and your daughter will keep everything crossed 4 u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 No advice im afraid. Just wanted to wish you and Rosie good luck. The school has always had an excellent reputaion and would have been our second choice for Adam if we'd been staying here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Good Luck Clare! The only people I've known to appeal got in, but then it was to a state school and in the same sort of area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 My nephew lost his appeal a couple of years ago. But a month into his second choice was offered a place at the first choice school! So my sister had to agonize as to whether to accept as he'd settled so well - and he needed ANOTHER uniform etc. In the end, they left it to him. He decided to change and it has worked out brilliantly. But it wasn't an ideal start! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Can't recommend this site highly enough: http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php They kept me sane while we went through appeal, ombudsman, second appeal. There is a lot of very good advice there and it doesn't matter if it's not a grammar school you're appealing for, there are some very good people that help - a bit like this forum for chicken lovers!! Good luck, it's a horrible process and I really feel for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 It all seems very complicated 'doon there'......up here your child goes to the local Secondary School, if you don't fancy that you can put in a placing request for another school nearby....I've never heard of anyone being turned down for this. And if you don't fancy that you pay wads of money for them to go private All sounds very stressful.....good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 Well, we've just got back from the 2nd stage of the appeal, and there was no way of gauging their response. Luckily it was all over quite quickly and not too much quizzing after I presented my bit. We should hear at the end of next week. Many thanks to dancing cloud for her very helpful pep talk last night; it helped immensely as much of the process is an unknown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Everything here crossed for good news next week for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Everything here crossed for good news next week for you. and here. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Hope you get the result that you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Oh Clare, I'm sorry I missed this. We appealed successfully to get DD1 into our nearest middle school. Since then I have written a letter of appeal for a friend to get her daughter into a secondary school. She won. And I advised some other parents about appealing to our Church secondary school when they are not church goers and don't live near the school either. They got their daughter in! I really hope your appeal went well for Rosie and that it wasn't too much of an ordeal for you. As someone else said, if she doesn't get a place put her on the waiting list. Other parents may well pull out as they find alternative schooling for their children and Rosie can rise to the top of the list. She may be lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks Ginette - she is on the waiting list. I plan to call them tomorrow to see how far up it she is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Well, we got the letter today and she didn't get in. Out of 18 pupils appealing, only 2 were allowed to go to the school. They did however commend Rosie on her excellent school reports and the standard of her work Thank you all for your support and help with this - it really helped me to be prepared for both sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 sorry Rosie didn't get in Clare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
