Is this a valid reason for a Secondary School appeal?

[AuntieA]

We are appealing the decision for my nieces' secondary school place and upon investigation, i've discovered that every year for the past 5 years, everyone who has appealed for a place at this school has won their case.
Does anyone think that this a valid argument to add to the appeal

• that the school will not be prejudiced by allowing her a place as they have always allowed other appellants a place previously?
  We do have other points to make such as it being a specialist sports school when she excels in sports etc but would like to know if anyone thinks that the above is a valid point for us to make, too!
  Plenty of brilliant advice on here which has helped tremendously, so am hoping that I can get some info on this question!

[prh47bridge]

It is a valid point but personally I wouldn't put it in your case. I would concentrate on the reasons your niece needs a place at this school. I would bring that up when questioning the school's representative during phase 1 of the appeal.

[prh47bridge]

By the way, I wouldn't say that it shows the school will not be prejudiced at all. I would say it demonstrates that they can cope with additional pupils without too many problems.

[PanelChair]

As prh says, each appeal turns on its own facts, so the fact that previous appeals have been successful does not necessarily mean that yours will be. On the other hand, it does suggest that possibly the school does not put up much of a case against admitting additional pupils - which helps you, if their case against admitting now is similarly weak - and they can cope with the increased pupil roll.

[AuntieA]

Thank you all - that's very helpful.
Sometimes you just can't see the wood for the trees, can you?!
I will now concentrate on building the case for my nieces need for a place at the school.
As she's a keen sports person and the school specialises in this area, we're going to submit a letter from her PE teacher, listing her sporting achievements and back this up with her certificates etc.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

It helps but it also depends on whether the yr12 is likely to be larger as a result. A school is ultimately a finite size and if you make too much of an issue that they have taken loads of students before then they could argue that as a result they are stretched to breaking point now, especially if they took more over the past few years who are still in the school. Sometimes these issues are addressed separately at a large stage 1 group meeting where they establish how much space there is in the school before hearing individual cases at the appeal.