School Appeal - should we admit that we have looked at private schools?

[Gladstone123]

DS has not been offered a place at any of his three prefs. We are appealing to all three as the school offered is not suitable for variety of reasons. We have also been looking at private options (not that we can afford this, but you sometimes have to do what you have to do for your children and it would mean major changes for all of us).
My question is, do we need to tell the appeal panel, if they ask us directly if we have applied to any other schools, that we have looked at private schools? My fear is that they will just think 'oh, if they can afford private then they don't really need this school they are appealing for'.
Help! This is so terrifying and we really do not want to screw our appeals up!

[Enidblyton1]

No, you don't need to say anything. Its not relevant to the appeal process.

[blackcatlover]

The panel are interested in why you want your child to go to the particular school that you are appealing for. Nothing else is terribly relevant.

[PatriciaHolm]

It's really not relevant. If the panels ask about applications, they are asking about your state choices. They shouldn't take any private school options into account alls

[Gladstone123]

Thank you. We've got no prob talking about the original three choices. We have also made late applications to three other schools so that we can get on the waiting lists. Do we need to mention these? Am hoping not as we don't really have strong grounds for those, it's more s case if they are just much better than the school allocated to ds even tho they are further away than the allocated school.

[blackcatlover]

You should bear in mind that you are appealing FOR a particular school not against one. The appeals for each school will be heard separately and considered on their own merits.

[Gladstone123]

Hi, we know we should concentrate on the reasons for the appealed school, but are worried we'll get tripped up and don't want the Panel to think 'oh they've applied to loads of schools so we don't need to give them a place here'.

[bojorojo]

So don't mention it then. The appeal
panel should not ask because it is not relevant. Focus very tightly on why you want the school you are appealing for. Saying other schools are rubbish is irrelevant. Saying you may go private is irrelevant. Stick to the facts and the benefits the school you want brings to your DC.

[SoulAccount]

Unless you have a case that the admissions criteria have been misapplied, The Appeal Panel are there to establish whether your child would be more disadvantaged by not attending that particular school than the school would by taking him.

That is all.

They are not there to consider or assess your wider options or interview you about other ideas you might have. They will just hear and clarify why you believe your DS should go to that school, and weigh it against the school's case, which is probably that it is full,

If they do say 'what would you do if this appeal fails ' I would say 'we would stay on the waiting list and hope that s place comes up eventually, and assess our options in the meantime'.