School Guidance: Admission Appeals & School Searches. Case Studies

WHAT THE CLIENTS SAY

RELOCATING FROM AMERICA
"Again thank you for all of your work and effort on the schools issue. I really feel fortunate to have found a resource such as you who did excellent work in providing the advice I needed as well as conducting the educational school search that fitted our needs."
Corporate Client

RELOCATING FROM SOUTH ASIA
“We can’t thank you enough for your very efficient and friendly service.”
A Foreign Office family posted in South Asia

FINDING A BOARDING SCHOOL IN THE UK
"I am delighted to recommend Penny Bysshe as an Educational Consultant.

My work with Penny has been an exceptionally pleasant, fruitful and positive experience.

Our native English-speaking family is located in Russia, and it became unexpectedly but quite quickly necessary to explore boarding possibilities for our two children - ages 11 and 8 - in the UK.

I completed Penny's standard questionnaires and then had a discussion with her for about half an hour, during which time I explained that our primary concerns as the children's parents were to find: a school with excellent pastoral care, not too many strictures, and proximity to Heathrow.

Penny then guided us efficiently, transparently, and professionally, through a background to the UK educational system (with its myriad of reports and guides!); a longlist of schools that fit our criteria; a shortlist of schools that corresponded to the children's wishes, and a series of remarkably well-organised and informative school visits. We were fortunate to have Penny attend several of our visits with us and, as my older child noted, "I like it when Penny is there. She asks good questions"!

Penny provided her remarkable support to us in a consistently positive and reassuring manner, and was open and constructive with a number of very-last minute changes in our plans and scheduling of which I had to advise her at very short notice.

As a parent, the task of finding a good school for one's children is a primary responsibility and concern. Working with Penny has been an absolutely positive experience in knowing that, with her guidance, advice and support, we have had a wonderful overview of what are the best options for our children, and the opportunity to make the very best choice for them. Penny is fantastic!
Elizabeth Messud
Russia

"We've derived immense benefit from using Penny's services. Searching for the right school was something of a maze, but with Penny's assistance we were able to find a clear way through, and having done that, the planning of the school visits within the limited time that we had, was also meticulously structured for us by her. I have no hesitation in recommending her services to anyone looking to putting their child in a school in the U.K."
Mr and Mrs Belgore
Nigeria

MOVING TO A NEW AREA
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your help in finding schools which met my criteria not just for one but for two of my children. Your approach allowed me to focus in on what was important in a school for me. Also as we are moving to an area I know little about, your research allowed me to define which would be the best area to live in as they progress from Infant to Junior and eventually to Secondary school.

Your advice was very simple and logical and the speed of your response has meant that we are finally making progress."
Mr and Mrs Malik

Moving to Buckinghamshire
"We have decided to move from Ealing, West London, to the Bucks/Berks area to achieve a better quality of life and education for our children.

Penny has been frank and very informative, and given us some excellent guidelines regarding both primary and secondary education. Her service has allowed us to focus on the key issues in making such a move."
Mr and Mrs S Stone

ADMISSION APPEALS
"I cannot begin to thank Penny enough for the help and support she gave me for my daughter’s appeal for Holt School, Wokingham. My daughter cried with happiness when she found out I had been successful. This is a matter with lifelong implications for my child and, whilst the experience was stressful, Penny’s support and advice gave me the strength to challenge the local authority for a place in a school where few are successful on appeal. Penny was able to indicate what information was constructive to present and what was irrelevant. I would advise any parent in a similar situation not to consider proceeding with the appeal without seeking support from Penny Bysshe."
Melanie Headington Secondary School Transfer Appeal Berkshire

"Many thanks for all your help. We had a successful outcome at the appeal today and were offered a place for William after Stage 1. I still can't quite believe that we've come away with the result we wanted. Your input was invaluable - especially regarding the process and understanding the way that the panel would think."
Karen Irons Key Stage 1 Admission appeal

"Penny, thank you so, so much for your advice. I took everything on board that we had discussed and presented the school with everything you told me to do/bring along. Without your help there is no way I could have won the appeal. I would have had a different approach to the whole thing, which clearly would have been the wrong one.

I would strongly recommend your services to anyone who wants the best for their child. You have made both myself and Jordan the happiest people. Again, thank you."
D. Lennon Secondary School Appeal Redbridge

"We had the wonderful news yesterday that we had won our appeal for a place at Wadebridge School. We are absolutely over the moon, and delighted with the decision. Our daughter cried with relief when we told her!

We would like to say a huge thank you to you, Penny, for all your help and effort that you put into this appeal. You have been tremendously helpful to us all, during what has been a particularly stressful and difficult time.

We are sure that your help and guidance has played a significant part in us winning the appeal, and want you to know that we are very grateful to you."
Mr and Mrs B Transfer Appeal to a secondary school in Cornwall

“We are indebted to Penny for assisting us with the appeal to transfer our eldest daughter from the independent sector to state High School outside our catchment area. When faced with changes in criteria for changing from independent to state she advised us on how to transfer our youngest daughter, Jenna, and get her into the same High School. We have always received very prompt, professional and sound advice from Penny and would have no hesitation in recommending her services to anyone. We achieved our aim of getting both girls into the same High School.”
Harriet and Nigel Rich Admission Appeal.
Norfolk

“Thanks to Penny I’m about to go to the High School that I know I will love. Without her this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Jenna Rich

“As you are aware, we were recommended to you by (name supplied) after you had assisted him and his wife in a successful 11+ appeal for one of their sons.

Our son, Kyran, was just one point short of the required 121 points, even though he was on his school’s highly recommended list and everybody confidently expected him to be successful in the 11+ examinations.

You made us aware of selecting all applicable evidence that was not obvious, such as Kyran’s Latin teacher (not a curriculum subject).

We do not consider that our appeal would have been of the high standard, or structured in the correct manner, without your invaluable professional help and advice. Without this we doubt we would have had a successful outcome.

We would have no hesitation in recommending you to anybody in a similar situation to ours.”
Mr and Mrs G Spurrier 11+ Selection Appeal

“Penny provided valuable advice and support in our appeal to get our twin daughters into the primary school of our choice.
Key Stage 1 Admission Appeal
Mr and Mrs Brown
Berkshire

"I have received so much help from Penny with the preparation for my Appeals. She knows the important points to make and how to present the case. She gave me the much needed confidence to face the Appeals Panel and obtain a very successful outcome."
A Review and a Transfer Appeal
Mrs H Dell
Buckingshamshire

"Penny was invaluable in helping us secure a place for our child at the High School of our choice. She provided good sound advice in preparing our appeal and supported us throughout the process, giving us the confidence we needed on the day of the appeal. Many thanks indeed."
Mr & Mrs DC, High School Appeal.

HELP WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS
"I was in the position of having to find a school for my son who had just been statemented. I did not know where to look and did not have the time to do the research. I contacted Penny who researched the schools very thoroughly and found one that I would never have considered. It is the perfect school for my son and he has settled in very happily and quickly. I am very grateful to Penny for achieving what would have been an impossible job for me and for all her help and guidance along the way. It has been worth every penny!"
Mr D Williams
Berkshire

"My son was unhappy on his college course and we did not know which way to turn. I spoke to Penny over the telephone and explained my son’s situation. Penny did some research and found a college which offered the right support for my son. She was very pro-active in getting the wheels in motion straight away as the term had already begun. We had a consultation with Penny where she supplied us with many very useful contacts and addresses and went through all the options available.

Penny service was second to none and she is continuing to give advice and support with my son’s education. She has found a path forward for him and given me hope for the future. Penny provided us with a very personalised service that was both thorough and quick. I would recommend that anyone who is having trouble finding a course to suit their child’s educational needs should contact Penny. I cannot thank her enough for the help she has given us."
Mrs C Finlay
British Airways

ADVICE ON UNIVERSITY COURSES
"I left school after my A levels with the intention of taking a gap year. Unfortunately I had to retake an A level and was finding it very difficult to write my Student Profile for the UCAS form. As the round the world trip I had planned with my friend had fallen through, I also had no idea what to do with the rest of my gap year.

Penny helped me to write my Student Profile and gave me useful advice about revising for my A level exam. She then talked me through the options open to me for the rest of my gap year. Through her guidance I got a place on a wonderful course in Ecuador, which will help me with my studies at university.

I found Penny’s advice a great help in pointing me in the right direction and I am now looking forward to studying at university.”
Alison Miller
Student

PLACEMENT ON AN ARTS FOUNDATION COURSE
“I decided in August that I wanted to start an Art Foundation Course the following month. I was worried that it was too late to apply but a friend suggested I should contact Penny Bysshe, which I did. After finding out the sort of course I wanted to go on she arranged interviews for me at 3 colleges and accompanied me on my visits. I was accepted at Winchester College of Art and started the course at the beginning of September. I knew nothing about the application process but Penny helped me complete all the paperwork and even sorted out my accommodation. Without Penny’s prompt action I would not have found a place and would have wasted a year. I am really enjoying my course, it is just right for me, and I am very grateful to Penny for the help she gave me.”
Arts Foundation Course Student
Winchester College of Art