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National Offer Day, 1 March 2016, is done and you failed to get a place at the secondary school you prefer for your son or daughter and they are allocated one in a school you do not prefer. Nevertheless, you can appeal the decision you have gotten.
You can negotiate with the school through the statutory appeals process. Submit to the school your written appeal and prepare for its hearing which may be scheduled for starting late June or July. Appealing the decision can make you anxious for up to five months until your case is finally decided. Based on statistics, you have a 33% chance of succeeding.
Data show that only one in three appeals has succeeded. That is the overall or average rate and school specific numbers vary due to factors including local authority where you live and the school itself. Basing on them, you can increase the chances of your appeal to be part of the 33% which becomes successful. Here is how you can do it.
1 – Secure a Place for Your Child
Make sure that your child has a place in secondary school. Making an appeal at your preferred school is not a refusal of the offer you have received. Accept that offer from that other school and immediately request your preferred school to put your child’s name on their waiting list. Secure the Notice of Appeal form from the local authority. It is required to be attached to your letter. Read the instructions thoroughly including deadlines, if any.
2 – Research About Your Preferred School
Two of your goals is to submit a well written, well researched appeal and be prepared for the hearing. To do this, you need to research more about your preferred school so that you can cite facts to strengthen your appeal. Gather information about how the school has admitted pupils above their published admission number in the past and what were its results and implications. Use these to show that your child can be added without causing any problems for the school. Essay Writer’s data collection services can help you with this.
3 – Prepare Your Written Appeal
A strong appeal starts with its writing. It is the source document of your appeal. It is where the school or local authorities will first consider your case and have questions to ask in the hearing. As the main document, it should include all the supporting points of your appeal. The document should be well researched and well written.
Put to organised writing the reasons why your child needs to be admitted to the school and the supporting facts you have researched showing how the school have considered reasonable appeals like yours.
Attach documents that support your reasons for preferring the school like recommendations or certifications from the appropriate professional like a doctor for example. Request the professional to include an explanation of why your child needs to go to the school, such professional’s statements supporting your appeal and the implications if your child attends a different school.
Excellent writing presents your points and supporting research in the best way that strengthens your appeal. To make sure you achieve this, let Essay Writer do it for you.
4 – Go to the Hearing Prepared
Make your appeal even stronger showing the genuineness of your reasons. Show that you are really well versed of the matters involved in your reasons. Starting from researching for and preparing your written appeal, be knowledgeable of the details of your child’s situation.
Your constant purpose is to develop a working knowledge of the matters so that you can sufficiently communicate your reasons in the hearing. From the start, you should take down notes. Few days before the hearing, prepare an organised notes and rehearse what you will say in the hearing. It can be based on the outline of your written appeal.
5 – Conduct Professionally
Do not forget to be courteous. Treat the clerk, panel members and the presenting officer with respect. They are not your adversaries. Appreciate the opportunity to make an appeal. You are there at the hearing to appeal for a reconsideration, not to fight these people to give your child the place.
Behave in professional demeanour in the hearing. If possible, avoid becoming emotional. Otherwise, still conduct yourself like a professional. Stick to the facts of your case and do not compare it with others. An appeal is decided as a separate case on its own merits. Generally, the appeal panel do not compare cases. They will reach a decision based on the facts of the case.
Appeal and Succeed!
Appeal and get your child a place at your preferred secondary school which you know will put him or her in the best situation, especially if he or she has specific medical and other important needs. You have enough time and help to do it successfully.
