School appeals must regard children more, says mum

Jo's son Sam is going to Tewkesbury Academy after she lost her appeal

A woman whose son did not get into his first choice school wants the appeal process changed to give greater consideration to the child.

Jo had hoped to send son Sam to either Churchdown School Academy or Chosen Hill School but he is instead going to Tewkesbury Academy.

She said he was the only pupil from his junior school going there, leaving her worried the switch would be an anxious one.

Gloucestershire Council said more than 93% of families received one of their preferred schools.

After being denied a place at her first choices Jo, from Gloucester, took on the system.

She said getting Sam to and from Tewkesbury will hit the family financially and that she did not believe her worries about him were properly heeded.

"I did not feel my concerns about his emotional wellbeing and his social wellbeing were kind of heard," she said.

"More emphasis needs to be put on children's kind of social group and how that impacts on emotional wellbeing."

Natasha also appealed when her first choice schools of Churchdown School Academy and Chosen Hill School were turned down.

Instead she was allocated a place at Newent Community School - a 40 minute bus ride away - for son Jack.

On appealing she was offered a place at Churchdown.

In preparation for the appeal she got letters from his junior school head teacher, his rugby teacher, Jack's GP and from his private tutor.

Natasha successfully went through the school appeals process for her son Jack

She then presented her case to a three-person panel and considered the experience on a par with losing her father.

Natasha, also from Gloucester, said: "The whole thing was a trauma, like a significant life event. I have lost my dad and he is the immediate family that I have lost. Second to that this has been it."

She said that getting the relevant information took a lot of effort.

Natasha said: "I'm a working professional with a degree and I am able to navigate through all the paperwork and understand the process but not everyone is able to do that."

Jack said not knowing where he was going was "annoying" and "frustrating".

He said: "I was going to some random school that only four people in my year are going to and then they (were) all talking about schools that they really wanted to go to," he said.

Gloucestershire County Council's education member, Linda Cohen, said more than 93% of families received one of their preferred schools.

"Our admissions team works closely with schools to allocate places fairly and in line with national guidance," she said.

"We continue to monitor demand and have added extra capacity where needed."