Q: Do you know of anyone who can help me write an school admissions appeal, it seems to be an absolute mine field, there doesn't seem to be that much help out there, for worried parents and children alike. We are at our wits end. I hope you can help with this matter.
Steven Walden, Walsall
A: Dear Steven
We are sorry to hear of your difficulties. It is possible to consult the school admissions officer in your county for advice but, if you wish to speak to someone outside the appeals process, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, the Citizens Advice Bureau can advise you. For more information, go to the section on Schools' Admission Policies of the CAB website -- You can also search for your local CAB office on the site so that you can talk to an adviser face-to-face. There is further advice on the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) website. It might also help to read another parent's experience of the school appeals process - Good luck.
Q: My son is caught in the middle school system. I have applied for the nearest senior schools that are not in this system but we are out of area for both. However, he has been allocated a place at a senior school much further away and I have to say at an much less popular school where he will not thrive. I did not put this down on the form as a choice. Can the LEA do this? How do I get a school place out of the middle school system where I can get to, without having to ask the whole family to move house. This all seems ludicrous to me!
Debbie, Great Hormead
A: Dear Debbie
The simple answer is that the LEA do have a right to do this. Even though you have a right to state your preferred school, the admission authority is not required to give you a place if more applications are received than there are places available. Every school has an admissions limit for the number of children that will be offered places. Once that number of places have been taken, the year group is full.
You are able to appeal the decision but this can be quite a stressful experience and it would be a good idea to seek advice before doing this. You could consult the school admissions officer in your county for advice but, if you wish to speak to someone outside the appeals process, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, the Citizens Advice Bureau can advise you. For more information, go to the section on Schools' Admission Policies of the CAB website.
You can also search for your local CAB office on the site so that you can talk to an adviser face-to-face. There is further advice on the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) website as well. It might also help to read another parent's experience of the school appeals process see choosing a school.
