Social reasons on school application

[Lambzig]

I am applying for my daughters school and in the reasons for applying there is a box you can tick for "I am applying to this school for social reasons". I can't find any guidance from the county as to what 'social reasons' are. I am assuming they are meant to cover children with specific reasons rather than vague concepts about liking the school or having friends there. Could anyone please advise me what social reasons cover?

[Ferguson]

I don't really know, but might it be if you already have relatives or friends there?

[dizzyday07]

I think that was on my DD's form when we applied for Reception and we just put that it was our only village school!

[mymatemax]

a social worker friend managed to get her child at their preferred out of catchment school on the grounds that she had many families on her caseload that attended the catchment school & it could cause social difficulties for the child & conflict of interest for her self.

[admission]

You need to look at the admission criteria to confirm exactly what it says but a good number of Local Authorities have an admission criteria that gives high priority to medical and social needs.
The point to understand is that there is a very high barrier to getting acceptance under this criteria and if you are applying under this criteria I would urge you to talk to the LA about exactly what information they need to assess the reason for wanting admission under this criteria. It is no use just applying, it will almost certainly not be accepted.
In terms of social issues, certainly the example by mymatemax is quite typical of what is possible to be accepted under the criteria and could apply to police, youth workers or other such professions for similar reasons.
The other main one is where there is a particular reason why the catchment school is not acceptable is something like a single mother with issues around partners who are abusive. It is at that kind of level and not for such issues as this is where all daughters friends are going.

[Lambzig]

Thank you, this is far more informative than the county's admissions criteria document which gives no interpretation of what they mean by social reasons at all

I do think dd may have a reason that would count. I just didn't want to be an arse about it if it was a particular category of social need. The 1st choice school is our catchment area school so perhaps we would be ok anyway.

[cory]

Social reasons I have come across or heard of have included:

child with extreme anxiety applying to be with friends (extreme anxiety confirmed by Mental Health clinic)

child with terminally ill parents applying to go to school with specially trained bereavement counsellors (terminal illness confirmed by letter from GP)

child who has been abused or severely bullied applying to school which is not next to abuser's family home or attended by bullies

As tiggytape says, you would be looking at something that can easily be supported by professionals: e.g. a level of anxiety that has already required involvement from mental health professionals, a level of bullying/abuse that means SS or the police already know about your family.

[Lambzig]

Thank you all

I have decided on reflection that I am not going to tick social reasons (don't want to make a big thing of it) and will just write something about loving the school, local community which I am sure will never get read.

[Toystorey1]

My son has two younger disabled siblings we want to apply for the chosen school because it will give ewanzthr rest bite would that count

[cabbageking]

First thing to do is to check the school has a criterion for this.
It would need to be the closest school to help to reduce stress as much as possible. A doctor or similar medical professional would need to name the school and the children's issues along with a medical opinion as to why the named school is the best option. The starting point is all and any school can provide for any child unless you can evidence ofherwise.

If the chosen school is not your nearest school then your argument goes out the window as any respite time is reduced with additional time for travel.
That would be my thoughts.

[LIZS]

Can you start a new thread with more information as previous posts are old. Unlikely sibling situation would have any influence though, unless this child is a carer for example.