Heard today that we didn't get our daughter into the local primary school, despite the fact that we live in the catchment and our medical and transport situation (all documented at the appeal) make it impossible to get her anywhere else.

So God knows what we do now. We are absolutely devastated.

To anyone considering appealing over a school place, my advice is - don't bother. They have made up their minds before you step in the room, pretty much.

"Parental choice" - what a joke in Sheffield.

Would this be loxley or wisewood primary school??

If you can't get in one try the other

sorry to hear that, don't give up though your child has a right to be educated so surely there must be some other way of appeal process or changeing of their minds... perhaps you could go to the newspapers, this sort of story would be right up their street and it may encourage the school to re consider.
you could also try citizens advice and writing to the politicians.

good luck and keep your chin up, i hope you can sort something out

Originally posted by onedizzybird
sorry to hear that, don't give up though your child has a right to be educated so surely there must be some other way of appeal process or changeing of their minds... perhaps you could go to the newspapers, this sort of story would be right up their street and it may encourage the school to re consider.
you could also try citizens advice and writing to the politicians.

good luck and keep your chin up, i hope you can sort something out

Thanks for the advice folks (although I'm not quite sure why the title of this thread was changed).

There's no other right of appeal. It's the end of the line. Another appeal is only allowed in the same academic year if you have new evidence to present - otherwise not until the next academic year. In practice, we will have even less evidence by then because they will just ask us what we are doing now, and the truth is that we will probably be managing somehow - although I don't know how.

The head made it quite clear that she didn't want us. She was concerned about the financial implications for her school. If there are still 32-plus pupils at the end of Reception, they'll have to get another support teacher and that may change things, but by then our daughter will have had two terms at Rivelin and that could weaken our case.

The really infuriating thing is that I think they are in breach of the DfES guidelines which specifically state that families moving into the catchment are an exception to the 30-pupil limit rule (Appeals Admissions Procedure section 4.54, if anyone's bothered!!). We stated this at the appeal panel and it seems to have been ignored.

Yes, she has a right to be educated - in Sheffield. The LEA only have to demonstrate that there are places available, not necessarily places within the catchment. In practice, they will never find themselves unable to do this: all they have to do is show that there are spare places *somewhere* on this side of the city. They don't have to prove that they are easy to get to or in desirable schools. They just have to play a numbers game.

Wisewood's on the road up behind us, and just a bit nearer than Rivelin, but it makes no sense to send her there - it's still a bus journey (or a 20-minute walk) and it is still outside the catchment and we don't know anyone there. Plus its results are nowhere near as good as either Loxley or Rivelin; it's not a school we would have chosen. Why go out of catchment for a worse school?? Doesn't make sense. And we want our children to go to Bradfield when they are 11, not Wisewood or Myers. It's our catchment secondary. It seems reasonable.

The thing that makes me really ANGRY is that there are people who appeal for purely snobbish reasons - e.g. so that their kids don't have to go to the same school as the kids from the estate (this is why so many appeals centre around such schools as Dobcroft, Lydgate and Dore - people are trying to get in from out of catchment). We're not doing that - we want our children to go to the local school. The one 2 minutes round the corner. The one in the catchment. We don't want them getting up at the crack of dawn to go bussing across the city. (I can't drive, for medical reasons.)

The process is utterly belittling and humiliating for parents and I would now advise anyone thinking about appealing not to bother. Right now, I feel more covered in s*** than Kilroy.

I was recently told that if you take your child to the school of your choice on the first day of term that they HAVE to accept her.
I don't know for sure but it's something I heard this week, which has allegedly happened.
Perhaps an internet search of legal practice could help you.

I have never, ever heard of this, Zebra! Sources? Sounds highly dubious to me.

Danny I would seek advice from a solicitor because I do know parents who have forced the hand of the school into admitting pupils...on one occasion the school managed to drop themselves in it with little help from legal team.

This isn't the end of the line that is simply what they tell you so you will give up.

Moon

You should right to your MP Danny, stating all the facts and you feel that vital evidence was ignored at the appeal.

It has to be worth a try.

Good Luck

Mat:thumbsup:

I've often heard the comment 'the parent's choice', if I understand this correctly then a parent has the choice to put their child in a school that can be miles from where they live purely because they want their child to go to a 'good' school.
In todays day and age there should not be 'bad' schools and rather than allowing parents to scamper towards the so called 'good' school they should be saying to the government and the LEA, we want our local school to be as 'good' as say the one at Dore or wherever. All kids deserve to be in 'good' schools.

Originally posted by mat1978
You should right to your MP Danny, stating all the facts and you feel that vital evidence was ignored at the appeal.

It has to be worth a try.

Good Luck

Mat:thumbsup:

Hmmm... you could always write to your MP...

Originally posted by amhudson119
Hmmm... you could always write to your MP...

:blush:

OK no-one likes a smart arse m8 :P :P

Mat :D

What a mess the education system has become. It is wrong that parents should be prosecuted for not sending kids to school, Yet the council ( being responsible ) can refuse to educate the child. I do know that if you have problems there are ways to make sure you are not prosecuted for sending your child to school. That is to turn up at the school of your choice within the catchment area, every morning with your child. You ask them if they can accept the child into school. If they say no, Then you have done your duty, However, It is best that schooling be arranged as soon as possible so as not to affect the childs welfare. Maybe after going to the school you prove to the authorities that they are not neglected educationaly by giving them plenty of home schooling. But, You must turn up at the school every morning to ask if they will accept the child. It is time that politics was taken out of schooling, Mnay schools use this as an excuse to get more money and rescourses out of the system, There are places in these schools.

An afterthought for anyone interested.

Remember when we were at school ( I am 58 ). We had classes of 35 or more, The teachers were well dedicated. We did not move around classes, School was very strict, no-one dared play truant. There was very little bullying, Play centres after school. Sport after school. Very few fat kids. We could write better than most kids of today. I have kids of 15 / 16 asking me to help them write applications for jobs, or filling in forms. These same kids have passed GCE's One I know has a GCE in French, He can hardly speak a word of it.. I could go on, But maybe it is wrong to steal the forum. My apologies

It is wrong that parents should be prosecuted for not sending kids to school..........................I do know that if you have problems there are ways to make sure you are not prosecuted for sending your child to school. That is to turn up at the school of your choice within the catchment area, every morning with your child.


So whats the problem? If parents do all they can to get thier kids to school, then they wont be prosecuted as you said. If however they dont give two hoots then they should be rightly dealt with.

The teachers were well dedicated

The vast majority still are in my experience

School was very strict, no-one dared play truant.

I think the reason kids have no scruples about playing truant comes from home and not school. Like anything, a school can only have as much an impact as the parents want them to have.

These same kids have passed GCE's One I know has a GCE in French, He can hardly speak a word of it.

Rodgers, you get a grade 'G' in GCSE just by putting your name on the answer paper.

Originally posted by Moon Maiden
Danny I would seek advice from a solicitor because I do know parents who have forced the hand of the school into admitting pupils...on one occasion the school managed to drop themselves in it with little help from legal team.

This isn't the end of the line that is simply what they tell you so you will give up.

Moon

Thanks MM - we got a solicitor to look over our initial argument so we thought it was pretty strong. We represented ourselves at the appeal hearing itself.

We are so disheartened now, though - the head patently doesn't want our daughter there, so do we want to persist in trying to send her to school where her presence will be resented for tipping the balance of the class ?

I will also take up people's suggestions of writing to Helen Jackson (our MP) and I'll write to Mr Crossley-Holland too, although I doubt any of it will do any good, as there is nothing the LEA have actually done wrong as such.

We were told we had to abide by the decision of the appeal and we agreed to do so - they have you backed into a corner. What can you do? say "no, we'll fight you all the way?"

Reception numbers are currently 32 and so the head turned up in perosn to argue that they couldn't even take one more pupil as the numbers were already over. My understanding is that they have to appoint another teacher if the numbers are still over 30 at the end of Reception year. (The LEA would presumably have to give the school a mobile classroom, as they have no extra classrooms.)

So what would happen then, with two classes of 16? We're first on the waiting list still, so do the LEA contact us? Do we apply again? Appeal again?

Whatever happens, I am most grateful for the interest and sympathy shown by people on here.

That's one of the reasons I get so angry, Every day we see kids playing truant, Parents do not give a damn, Some even encourage this. But, What can we do, Are we right to punish the parent, Some do try, But, I know kids that just will not go. This is so unfair on those that do their best, Maybe to have a special school that is run on the approved school system, Give the kids discipline and work, Make them want to go to ordinary school. We cannot even punish our kids today. The do gooders have done so much damage ( and still doing so ). I would have got a belting had I not gone to school. OK so this may be cruel and out of fashion now, But, You cannot lock a kid in his room, You cannot ground them. The threat of punishment has gone. I was brought up in a very strict and LOVING environment. Yes we need the love, But, We also need the punishment as well. That is why so many kids are going off of the rails. We now see so many failing families, Young teens with babies. Most of them had parents that were do-gooders. Many came from homes where there was no love. No family bonds. Television, Computer games, have taken place of parents and the good old family chat. I am glad that I am 58, I would otherwise be very afraid of what the future holds.

We have to remember that the VAST majority of young people are hard working, caring, respectful and atttend school day in day out. Its only the 'challenging' ones that get the attention of the media and society - for every gang of 10 kids commiting ASB there are another 100 playing football, hanging out with friends or doing homework, generally not causing a nuisance in society.

I dont understand this term 'do-gooders', i would suggest that challenging kids have come from challenging homes.

I do agree that TV and Computer games etc have stole some of the time that used to be spent interecting with the family. But its up to parents to set aside time to do this.

A very interesting programme on the other night comparing 1954 to 2004. Although in 1954 very few women went out to work, statistically speaking we apend more time with our kids now than 50's parents did. Doesnt really 'fit in' with the whole breakdown of family=ASB argument.

Mat :)

I am linking do-gooders with families that have a problem, For instance, We have a young woman on our local committee, She spends so much time trying to get petitions signed, wanting extra amenities for drug addicts, ASB's, A place where kids can hang out late at night if they do not want to go home ie. till 1 am. She says she wants to tempt kids with rewards to change their behaviour, Not as I would do reward kids that already behave. This woman is always on demonstrations no matter what they are. She is a do-gooder in my book. It would be great if people like her did good things for the right reasons. Not all do gooders are a bl...y nuisance. But many change things for the worse. To finalize, This womans son is one of the worse on the Estate. He has burgled and robbed, Broken windows of anyone complaining. Now he thinks he deserves rewarding. His mum says he is not really a bad lad. He is just misunderstood. I am afraid I have no time for these sort of people. I have plenty of time for families that try, Families that are undergoing real hardship. Families whos children do listen, maybe get lost at times. But these are the one's that need rewarding and help. I have always had a saying about those that work within the social field. They need to create problems to prove that they are needed. Without problems many of these people would be able to go home and look after their own families, Maybe solve their own problems.

Perhaps the reason this kid is such a nuisance is more to do with the fact his mother is never around rather that the 'do-gooding' activities she does?

Don't bother writing to your MP - use the

http://www.faxyourmp.com

route - its quicker.

Thanks for the link, saxon. I shall do that today. Do you have experience of contacting your MP this way? Does it get read and acted upon more quickly than a letter?

Originally posted by DannyBoy
Thanks for the link, saxon. I shall do that today. Do you have experience of contacting your MP this way? Does it get read and acted upon more quickly than a letter?

imo you're more likely to get a response from a well worded letter than a fax (they are more prone to non-delivery). Contact Helen here:

Helen Jackson
MP's Office
Hillsborough Library
Sheffield
S6 4HD

Another thought along these lines (no help to OP I'm afraid). We've had a massive amount of house building round us in the last 3 years, mainly family orientated houses. This puts pressure on local school places because more kids move into the area. The end result is not enough places for kids who actually live in the catchment area.

Not sure how the schools are funded, but I bet it's not per child living in the catchment areas.

Originally posted by DannyBoy
There's no other right of appeal. It's the end of the line. Another appeal is only allowed in the same academic year if you have new evidence to present - otherwise not until the next academic year.


Don't write it off Danny. If you feel strongly that proper procedure hasn't been followed then you have every right to appeal to the Council Ombudsman. I think her name is Ms Thomas and the address is in York (sure if you Goooogle you'll find it). Go for it, you have nothing to lose.

Originally posted by max
imo you're more likely to get a response from a well worded letter than a fax (they are more prone to non-delivery). Contact Helen here:

Helen Jackson
MP's Office
Hillsborough Library
Sheffield
S6 4HD

Not so Max. I too have contacted my MP this way a few times and ALWAYS had a response. The site also follows up to check that you have had one and produces a 'name them and shame them'list of those that don't.

By the way, the 'well worded letter' can be by way of fax!!

Not sure how the schools are funded, but I bet it's not per child living in the catchment areas.
They're funded per child attending the school.

Danny:

I am a trainee journalist from the sheffield university. we are running a student based radio station. Your story interests me. Can you spare me sometime to talk about it?

Please send me a email: jop04fh@sheffield.ac.uk

Frank.

This is happening all around Sheffield

I wanted a place at Nether Green School.
i was told it was oversubscribed and it would have to go to appeal.
It is a very good school and the education dept know that even with my familys special circumstances, if their budgets are mismanaged and they cannot afford to pay another teachers wages, then there is not much chance of winning an appeal.

Like has been said, when we were kids, we went to the local school or got in to another if we wanted to travel.
Things seem so much worse today that when I wa a kid.

Kids had to behave as they were made to show respect to tthe teachers and were quite scared usually of the head.

The school that I know that is really well managed and the head has a great way of running the school is King Edward v11.
It has traditional values but believes in live and let live when it comes to tolerance and understanding.

It is such a shame that there are so many problems today.
The fact that we have the forum helps us to get some help and some support.

Well done to everyone involved in The Foruml

We need to return to the old system of schooling, Where schools cater only for those within their catchment. For instance, Herries School caters for many pupils that do not even live anywhere near the area. Busk Meadows infant school caters for many that do not live within the area. Yet parents that live close to these two schools must travel miles to try and find schooling. When we have this system it makes it easier for the teachers to get to know parents and those that live in the area, Also makes it hard to truant without being noticed. I know that parents want the best schools for their kids, But we must realize that education is the foundation of life. Even basic education RRR's. This gives pupils a start on the ladder when they are old enough to start college. It is good to see that parents are now starting to take an interest in their child schooling, More parents are starting to buy kids educational toy's than they did before. Education is not just something the kids participate in for a very few days out of the year, for a very few hours. Education at home is just as much, if not more important. To have the kids attend school in the area where they live is important, The authorities must look to returning to this system.

Sorry to hear you can't get your children into school's near you. The system does seem to be messing up somewhere. I am planning to educate my children at home though, so hopefully won't be worrying about this.

Hi Danny

Sorry to hear of your problems at Loxley, I have two children there and it is a brilliant school. I very much doubt that you'll get anywhere by writing to your MP.

Do you know what the status is of the 32 children in reception ie are they all from within the catchment area? if not what is the reasoning behind offering them a place?

How long have you lived in Loxley?

How many more applications other than yours have they had for the reception year that are within catchment and been refused?

Would it be possible to ask for a meeting with the Head & Governors to discuss the matter.

To be honest I'd try every available avenue before bringing in the 'big guns'.

Cheers

It makes no difference now as to where a person lives, Even if you live within the catchment there is no longer priority. A school can admit pupils that live in other areas if they have the room at the time, Or if that child reaches the top of the waiting list. For example a child that lived in Ecclesfield was admitted to Herries School, Whilst there were many others from the area of herries wanting school places.. That is why we should now place kids in schools that are in their catchment areas, The other option that we now use, Giving parents a choice of schools just does not work, We have all parents trying to get their kids into the same school thinking that particular school is better.

Originally posted by sanman
Do you know what the status is of the 32 children in reception ie are they all from within the catchment area? if not what is the reasoning behind offering them a place?

How long have you lived in Loxley?

How many more applications other than yours have they had for the reception year that are within catchment and been refused?

Would it be possible to ask for a meeting with the Head & Governors to discuss the matter.

To be honest I'd try every available avenue before bringing in the 'big guns'.

Thanks for all your questions, sanman. Here's a brief resume.

We've only been in Loxley for 4 months. We lived in Walkley before - applied for Rivelin in March and got it, then moved over the Spring/summer and applied to change to Loxley. We were told the Reception class was full (30) and stayed on the waiting list. So we hung on and hung on, thinking just one person would have to drop out, having been assured by the LEA that this was most likely to happen - and it didn't. In the meantime, two more got in - one "cared for child" and one successful appeal - and so we now have to wait for THREE to drop out before we get in. I'd love to know what those people said at their appeal to swing it that we didn't!

So we decided to appeal - and lost. The Head, Mrs Fletcher, turned up in person and made it very clear that we would not be welcome there as they didn't want the numbers to go up any further - the appeal panel obviously considered her one argument to have more weight than our several.

For this reason, I doubt that a meeting with the Head and governors would do any good - I doubt they'd even grant us one as our daughter is not a pupil of theirs. As far as they are concerned, the matter is settled.

We are still on the waiting list.

I don't know how many others from the catchment have been refused. I know there is at least one other pupil on the waiting list.

I know they initially had to take people from out of catchment to make up the numbers. Ironically, this means that if we'd moved in before March and applied then, we would certainly have got in. It seems so unjust to deny a place to someone in the catchment when others from outside have got one!!

So the situation for the moment is that my daughter is now due to start at Rivelin in January, when it's over 2 miles away and Loxley is just round the corner. It's just daft, because Rivelin has a waiting list (15 people at last count) and we are taking the place of someone from their catchment who should have it - just as someone from outside (most likely Wisewood or Wadsley area) has my daughter's place at Loxley.

Just to add, it's not that I want to moan about my individual case -I just think it highlights a wider issue as we are by no means the only people in Sheffield to be facing this problem.

The city council's encouragement of "parental choice" has got out of hand with people travelling across the city to attend schools other than their local ones. They are taking the place of people who are actually in the catchment and should be entitled to a place. The final irony is that we are taking someone's place at Rivelin while someone has ours at Loxley!

Originally posted by Rodgers
It makes no difference now as to where a person lives, Even if you live within the catchment there is no longer priority.

That's actually not true. They use a proirity system with 4 points on it (at secondary school level):

1. Special needs
2. Siblings
3. Feeder School
4. Parental request

We had to go through the worry of not getting a place in our school of choice, because we live 4 houses outside the catchment area of the school our eldest goes to. Although he attended a primary that was a feeder for the secondary, we were assigned another secondary school because of our address. We had to apply, giving reasons why was wanted him to go to that particular school.

He got in, but quite a few didn't.

We now have the sibling option open to us as well for our other kids, but we will still have to apply, unless we move.

DannyBoy

Looks like you have been unlucky and it was just a matter of timing, I dare say the fact that you had already been offered a place at Rivelin has not helped your cause.

I totally agree with you and the others that have stated that the Parental Choice has got out of hand, it would be fare better IMO to stick to catchment areas.

As stated I think its unlikely that you'll get anywhere with MPs etc but that's your choice. At least your little girl is on the waiting list and you never know you may be able to change at some stage.

Cheers

The problem is that SCC do operate on a catchment area basis. Catchment area is the first consideration (apart from 'looked after children' ie in some sort of care and children with special needs which can be specifically catered for at that particular school) when placing children. Unfortunately because they have no control over how many people have children in each particular area they can't predict accurately or guarantee a place even if you do live in the area. All the talk of children getting in from other areas only applies if the school has placed all the catchment area children first and still has places left over. There is then a list of priorities including siblings, (feeder at secondary) and then finally parental choice.

There are many children within the Shirecliffe Area, Herries Catchment, That would love to go to Herries. They cannot because there is no room. Many of them have to travel miles to school. Yet Herries has many from Ecclefield, Wisewood etc. The whole system needs to be looked at. Kids need to be re-allocated into the schools within their own area. It is time an inventory of kids was done, Maybe during the big Holidays. Then kids redirected to the schools within their own area.

Originally posted by Rodgers
The whole system needs to be looked at. Kids need to be re-allocated into the schools within their own area. It is time an inventory of kids was done, Maybe during the big Holidays. Then kids redirected to the schools within their own area.

All well and good if the basic assumption is that all schools are equally good at what they do. Unfortunately, they are not and while there are such huge discrepancies in the quality of eduacation from school to school then obviously the better schools will be in geater demand.

There is a primary school in Derbyshire that has 95% of it's school population from Sheffield and not Derbyshire and because it has an excellent reputation it is widely oversubscribed. All this at the expense of children from within the village where the school is located who have been refused a place. Work that one out!

It is up to the Governors of local schools to get rid of teachers they do not want. There are bad teachers, and, We have to put up with these on our disfunctional Estates. That is why there are so many unruly youngsters within certain communities, Bad Homes, Bad parents. Bad Schools. It is unfortunate that discipline has gone out of the system. I know of a really good teacher when offered a job at Herries, He said he would rather be on the dole. That is one reason why we need a complete rethink on the education system. Choice is fine in many things. But If everyone chose to go to the best of places even Housing Estates We would be in a mess. That is why schools hould all work on an equal footing, Equal time tables etc. Equally qualified teachers within each set form. If teachers do not come up to the standard then get rid of them, It is not a simple solution. If we were to make kids go to the school in their catchment, We would be accused of being dictators. If we give them all a choice, Then we have a state lottery where schools are concerned. We all want the best for our kids. That is just natural. But, We mainly choose the area's where we live, So we also choose the schools within that area. As well as doctors and other services.

I know this is an old thread but i was looking up anything to do with school places as we are supposed to be moving into sheffield, i say supposed to be cos there are a lot of things at the moment which are against us. one of these things is a school place for my son. we are meant to be moving next month but im having trouble finding a school with a place for my son, ive tried every school in the area and any that are n the bus route going all the way down toward london road. the only school i have been able to find a place is either 2 buses away or a 40 minute walk and they dont have a nursery which my youngest can attend so one of them is either going to be 40 minutes late for school everyday or 40 minutes late being picked up at the end of the day.

Sheffield primary admisions has stated that i can apply and appal for as many schools as i want but what happens if after the appeals i still can't get him anywhere closer? I too cannot drive due to medical reason and think its ridiculus.

Hi Cainedkaty,
Which areas / roads / schools are you thinking of? Some primary schools are full, but there must be places somewhere...

Hi Cainedkaty,
Which areas / roads / schools are you thinking of? Some primary schools are full, but there must be places somewhere...

We're supposed to be moving to Lowedges from near Worksop. The primary admissions team emailed me a list of schools with phone numbers and distances from where we should be living. I tried Lowedges, Lower Meadows, Greenhill, Abbey Lane, Woodseats, Meersbrook Bank and some further away but his year is a very popular year and they are all full. The further away from the area I was the less they wanted to know. Primary admissions also said they knew that that year group was full in a lot of schools but i'd just have to appeal and it's their busy time so they couldn't give me any ideas of how long that could take.

The headteacher where he is at the moment has said if i can't get a place then i'd probably have to keep taking him to the school where he is already and that is out of the question because with me not being able to drive we'd have to get the bus into town then the train to worksop and then the train to the village which would take about 2 hours altogether.

Have you thought about Anns Grove Primary, my youngest (5) is in the reception class and my son (12, now at secondary) went there as well, they have a nursery as well and is not that far from London Road.


Anns Grove Primary School
Anns Road,
Sheffield,
S2 3DJ

Telephone: 0114 2550398


Try googling postcode for a map.

For the core subjects class size is limited to 30 pupils.

So if they have 32 then they will have to have 2 teachers and split the class. That teacher only has to be present when the core subjects are being taught and may only be employed part time.

Will your child need a dedicated member of staff to look after her?

The school will get funding for this so its sounds like the school just doesn't want the responsibility.

Are you on the waiting list incase anyone drops out?

Sorry didn't realise this was an old thread, ignore the above :)

No he doesn't need a dedicated member of staff to look after him and we are on several waiting lists but the schools have said they don't hold out much hope for us. it was an old thread till i waded in with my problems!

Thanks for the advice folks (although I'm not quite sure why the title of this thread was changed).


Wisewood's on the road up behind us, and just a bit nearer than Rivelin, but it makes no sense to send her there - it's still a bus journey (or a 20-minute walk) and it is still outside the catchment and we don't know anyone there. Plus its results are nowhere near as good as either Loxley or Rivelin; it's not a school we would have chosen. Why go out of catchment for a worse school?? Doesn't make sense. And we want our children to go to Bradfield when they are 11, not Wisewood or Myers. It's our catchment secondary. It seems reasonable.

The thing that makes me really ANGRY is that there are people who appeal for purely snobbish reasons - e.g. so that their kids don't have to go to the same school as the kids from the estate than Kilroy.

Aren't these 2 statement contradictory. If you want Loxley so you can get into Bradfield then you doing exactly what you don't like others doing.

A lot of people have been cheated out of Bradfield places because of dubious catchement changes. I'm sure none of those appeals will win either.

Take a look at these websites DannyBoy, hope they help.

http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/advice/booklets/Appealing.html
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/search/index.jsp?search=School%20admissions%20policy&topicid=5469

Take a look at these websites DannyBoy, hope they help.

http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/advice/booklets/Appealing.html
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/search/index.jsp?search=School%20admissions%20policy&topicid=5469

Erm, Dannyboys child will now be getting ready for secondary school, the OP is 5 years old :hihi:

Bloody hell fox20thc, you're right! Howd the thread get back towards the top of the list? Thought it was new.:loopy: Lesson learnt, I'll check the date of the original post next time. Doh.
Well at least the links are there for other parents to look at.

Cainedkaty, One of your most local schools would be Sir Harold Jackson, which in spite of it's name is not a private school. It is extremely highly regarded. Have you been in touch with someone there?

Heard today that we didn't get our daughter into the local primary school, despite the fact that we live in the catchment and our medical and transport situation (all documented at the appeal) make it impossible to get her anywhere else.

So God knows what we do now. We are absolutely devastated.

To anyone considering appealing over a school place, my advice is - don't bother. They have made up their minds before you step in the room, pretty much.

"Parental choice" - what a joke in Sheffield.

oops.........