My Herts School Place-
Be prepared to cry!
Even the most poised mums and sternest looking dads can be surprised by the emotion of presenting their child’s case. Don’t be embarrassed – panels will be used to it. Make sure you bring some tissues, just in case.
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Be polite – even to the Local Authority representative!
Whatever your feelings of injustice or frustration, aggressive questioning or sarcasm towards the Local Authority representative will not put you in a positive light. Shaking hands with the panel when you arrive will do no harm.
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Limit your verbal case.
Put all your detailed points into your written submission. The panel will read this thoroughly and so will not need to hear it all again. At the appeal provide a brief summary of the key points. Be powerful, be emotive, be reasonable, but most important, be succinct and to the point.
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Explain your reasons for wanting the school appealed for.
Do not stray into rubbishing the school you have been allocated. Firstly, it is not relevant to the appeal. Secondly, it brings a negative tone to your case. Thirdly, it opens an unhelpful moral debate on school standards and the panellists may be former teachers or governors at struggling schools and may have strong feelings about the comprehensive education system.
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If you think there has been a mistake in the process, do not leave it until you get to appeal.
Contact the County Council and ask for it to be looked into. Hertfordshire County Council is a reasonable body that will investigate possible errors and correct them appropriately. The appeals panellists know this, so any alleged error will not necessarily give you an advantage.
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Make your case personal.
This is an appeal for your child. The panellists will want to know about them as an individual, their interests, their attitude to school, their involvement in the community. Be sure to bring your child to life in their eyes.
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Try to relax and not be too serious.
It has to be formal and structured, but it is not a court of law! The panellists have probably sat through days and days of appeals like yours. I would not advise frivolity, but the odd light-hearted comment that raises a smile or a laugh will reduce the tension and keep the panel awake. The more relaxed and personable you are, the more likely that you will make a positive impression.
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Be focused.
Stripped of the legal jargon, broadly speaking the panel’s decision is based on two factors. Firstly, whether the school can realistically accommodate more children. Secondly, which children most deserve to be accommodated above the school’s admissions number. Therefore, make sure your case both gives reasons for the school being able to cope with additional children and gives reasons for your child needing to be one of the additional children.
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Do not lose sight of the bigger picture.
There will be plenty of school places available in your area, just not necessarily at the school you want. The panel will be aware that over-filling successful schools both puts the successful schools under pressure and sucks more children away from schools that may be struggling because of low numbers. Also, remember your appeal may be one of dozens. The panel will be hearing all sorts of reasons for children needing a particular school. Be aware that some cases may be much more powerful or deserving than yours.
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Test your arguments.
Remember the panel have probably heard every argument known and parents will use arguments to suit their perspective. For example, if the nearest school is struggling, then parents will argue that they have no problem with their child taking three buses to a successful school. If the nearest school is successful and parents have been offered a struggling school three buses away, parents will argue that their children can’t possibly manage the journey. Turn your arguments on their heads and see if they still hold together before you decide to rely on them too heavily!
Request an initial free 10 minute discussion to explore whether you are on the right track or if you could benefit from more detailed advice.