Transfer Appeals

TRANSITION TO A SECONDARY STATE SCHOOL

Transferring your child from primary to secondary education can be fraught with problems particularly if you want your child to attend a school outside your catchment area, a church school or if your child has a particular need. If your child has not been allocated a place at your preferred secondary school I can help you put your appeal together in the best possible way to maximise your chances of success.

In my experience, the successful appeals are not always the strongest cases, but are often the ones that are best presented. By using my services you will go into the appeal feeling confident and well prepared knowing that you have done the very best for your child.

KEY STAGE 1 APPEALS

Securing a place for your child in the reception class can be a nightmare if the school is very oversubscribed especially if you find that most of the places are taken by siblings and very few left for anybody else. With places in Key Stage 1 classes (Reception to the end of Year 2) the Infant class size appeal applies. This states that a teacher cannot by law teach more than 30 children in one class. Infant class size appeals can only be won on the following limited grounds:

1. The child would have been offered a place if the admission arrangements had been properly implemented;
2. The child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had not been contrary to the mandatory provisions in the School Admissions Code and the SSFA 1998; and /or
3. The decision to refuse admission was not one which a reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.

If you are facing such an appeal I can advise you on the best way forward.

IN YEAR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL APPEALS

Moving house is stressful at the best of times but if you find that the local school near the house you have just purchased has filled the space you thought they had for your child it can turn into a nightmare. I can help you put your appeal together in the best possible way to maximise your chances of success.

PUTTING TOGETHER THE CASE FOR APPEAL

We discuss your case in detail either by phone or face-to-face. I make sure that every reason for appeal has been thoroughly explored. In depth discussions often bring to light reasons for appeal that win the case.

I assist you to write the Reasons for Appeal clearly and concisely, and highlight all the factors that are relevant for the appeal panel to consider. I advise you on the documentation you will need to produce to support your case.

In my experience, the successful appeals are not always the strongest cases, but are often the ones that are best prepared and presented.

I give detailed information on how the appeal process works and explain the roles played by the Panel, the Admission Authority and the Clerk. I go through the order of events on the day of your appeal.

I scrutinize the case made by the school, highlight any weaknesses and suggest questions you could ask at the appeal after the case for the school has been presented.

We discuss in detail the content of your speech to the panel and what you should and should not say. We also look at how you are going to present your speech and the use of an aide memoire.

We go through questions you may be asked after your speech and how to answer them to your best advantage. I guide you through the process from start to finish.
 
REPRESENTATION AND SUPPORT AT THE APPEAL

If you do not attend your appeal it will be held in your absence. Appeals held in the absence of a representative for the family almost invariably fail.

If you are unable, for any reason, to attend the appeal I can present your case for you at the hearing. If support is needed on the day, I can accompany you and take part in the presentation of your case.

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Penny Bysshe. School Guidance Consultancy
Orchard House, High Road, Cookham, Berkshire SL6 9JT
Tel. +44 (0)1628 810696. Email. consult@school-guidance.co.uk

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