middle school - how to appeal? advice needed!

[ovumahead]

Hello

Just received news that my son did not get into our nearest middle school which also has a very good reputation. We are not super close to the school and it is very oversubscribed, so we knew there was a chance that he wouldn't get in. However, the other options for middle schools were further away and also crap, and none of his friends from his current school would be going to any of them.

Nearby friends are all likely to have got in as either had siblings already at the school, had been going to church for this very purpose, or have some other reason for being higher up the list.

We do want to appeal but I'm wondering if someone could offer some advice on how best to make a good case?

At the moment these are the main things but I'm not sure if they sound 'meaty' enough!!

I'm am pregnant and due in September - we were planning on lift sharing with other local parents which would be an enormous help to us as a family during this time and also in the future

All DS's friends from his current school apart from a handful will be going to this school.

He has already moved schools twice and had to make new friends twice which has been a very stressful process for him (sleepless nights, knocked confidence etc) - he often talks about feeling different and not fitting in and I think being separated from his friends at the same time he's adjusting to becoming a big brother will be unnecessarily stressful for him.

The other nearby schools are primary schools and if he gets in to one of those he will be joining already established peer groups which will again be very difficult for him.


Any other wise words, things we should consider, or things that seem too silly to include?

[Owllady]

I don't want to be so negative but if the decision is based on straight line distance from school then you can appeal but anything you put will be just a waste of time :(
I know this from bitter experience unfortunately (also three tier)

What is the school like that you have been offered?

[ovumahead]

True!!

We will need to make in year applications for the other schools and there is a new school being built locally which we have applied for, but place there TBC depending if its finished in time!! So all a bit up in the air ATM...

[SavoyCabbage]

I'm sorry your ds didn't get into the school you wanted. It's all so very stressful.

Going to school with friends and sharing lifts are not good enough reasons for an appeal.

Have you been to look at the school where you have a place?

We emigrated when dd was five and she went to a school where she knew nobody and everyone knew everyone else. She's not the most confident child either. And we had just emigrated so there was a hell of a lot of change going on! Anyway, she was just fine. She made friends really quickly and nothing I had been worried about materialised. Except she didn't know what shade was when told to line up in the shade!

Try not to show him that you are worried. Don't be negative in case he does end up going to that school.

[ovumahead]

Thanks for this advice! My DH and I have already discussed being positive with DS about the school he has got a place at, tbh I dont think hell struggle too much. We can't look around it yet as it's still being built! Its an academy school as well so have to get my head around exactly what that means... Only problem is as its a new school there won't be any kids in the years above, which is a shame but may also be a blessing in some ways!!

If !maintaining social bonds and remaining as part of an already established community are not good grounds for an appeal,what are? I guess that was what my original post was about. The school he didn't get in to is pour nearest school and none of the others are within walking distance (well 45 mid walk each way which is not consistently doable for us as dh and I work).

[titchy]

You need reasons why the preferred school is better for him and you need evidence that supports this. So a child who feels like an outsider socially would need a Dr or CAMHS specialist saying he needs to remain with his peer group for his emotional health. Or if the appeal school has a maths club and he is G and T in maths and wouldn't get this support at another school that would be a good reason. Or he's a keen violinist and the appeal school is the only one with an orchestra.

Basically you just need to show the advantage to him is greater than the disadvantage to the school of admitting one more.