Hi all,
My little girl is due to start Primary School in September this year. After selecting our top 3 schools with my ex partner we had the news recently that the second choice school has been selected.
I did wish to appeal the decision but have been grinded down by my ex partner and the appeals process in general.
Anyone else had a similar experience?
Appeals at Primary level are very very difficult to win due to class sizes and staff ratios, I think possibly only 1 or 2 out of ten are successful and often this it at the risk of losing the place you have been offered depending on LEA policy.... sometimes the best way forward is waiting lists and seeing what can be done from there. I know it often means changing schools but they are very resilient at the age to change. If it's a local school, it's likely a change wouldn't be a huge deal as they would already have friends there?
I've done a few hearings recently on this type of issue and unless its Secondary level, the appeals are quite often exhausting and pointless.
Your situation sounds challenging.
Is there an option to keep your child in nursery until a space at the school of your choice opens up? According to www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/219167/v01-2012ukes.pdf children must be in primary school from the age of 5. If your child is a summer birth, it might be worth exploring as the would gain from the stability and you would gain from the time.
All the best.