What to do if your child doesn’t get into their chosen school

Last Monday was a pretty nerve-wracking day for me, along with numerous other mums and dads. It was the day that we would find out what primary school our children had got into. At the time of applying for the girls school place we actually lived on the same road as the school so I was pretty confident that the girls would get in. 


Unfortunately we then found out that our landlord wanted to sell up leaving us in the difficult situation of finding a new home that was still within the catchment area. Thankfully, we were very lucky in finding a new home that was still within the catchment area, but I was a little nervous as we were no longer living as close to the school as we previously did, although we’re still within walking distance. 

When I woke up on Monday morning my first thought was one of hope, anticipation and nervousness! I knew that the results wouldn’t be available online until 4pm that day, yet my Facebook and Twitter timeline was already starting to fill up with statuses of glee as mums and dads announced the happy news that their child had got into their chosen school. 


I’m not sure why we had to wait until 4pm, but I can tell you know that it was a very long day and one in which that annoyed my co-workers with my constant moaning!


When 4pm finally rolled around I logged in and was greeted by a site that made me very happy. Both of our twin girls had been offered a place in our chosen school. I was elated! 


As I shared the news with friends and some of the other parents, I quickly learnt that not everyone had received good news. 


One of my friends wasn’t even offered a place at all. Neither in the school that’s within her catchment area or in her chosen school. Instead she’s had to be put on a waiting list for a local school and that could be any school. 


Others found out that they had been offered a place in a school within their catchment area, but that wasn’t their chosen school and therefore, they’re going to be appealing. 


So what should you do if your child didn’t get offered a place in their chosen school?


Well, to start with the Primary Times website has a really good article entitled, ‘Making the School Appeal Process Easy.’


I’ll briefly give you an understanding of what you need to do. After receiving the letter that informs you that your child hasn’t received the placement, parents are given 20 school days to lodge an appeal. You’ll need to be prepared so think about the reasons why you’re making an appeal as you’ll need to submit this information with your appeal form. 


You’ll be notified within 10 school days of a date, time and venue of the hearing, which will be held in front of an independent appeal panel which consists of up to 5 people. Written notification of the results of the hearing will be sent to you no later than 5 school days after the hearing.


According to the article, Samantha Hale, an Education Solicitor who works with parents and guides them through this process at Simpson Millar law firm comments: