Secondary schools allocation day 2014

Thank you. There are a few other reasons but they are more about not wanting the school she has been offered rather than about wanting the school. IE the school's strength that she has been offered is music and drama and she has no interest whatsoever in either. These tips are really useful, i will talk to her and dh tonight. Thanks again.

The fact there are other children above her in sport doesn't entirely ruin the argument but certainly weakens it. I would push that one on the basis of her being a keen sportswoman rather than being a good one. The point about her career preference is a little better. The down side of that argument is that she may well change her mind as she goes through secondary school. But it is certainly worth a try.

I wouldn't regard your arguments as particularly strong but that doesn't mean they won't succeed. Sometimes the school's case for refusing entry is so weak that you don't need much of a case to win at appeal. You don't lose anything by appealing so there is no harm trying.

ok so we want the school because she is good at sport - though didnt make the top 13 sport related places, was about 24th. We also want it becuase she wants to be in the police/army and they run cadets. Is that specific enough? presume that as the sport places are offered there are another 10 children above my daughter in ability but with a similar argument so that must ruin that argument for her?

I don't think we have grounds for an appeal

You don't need grounds as such. You simply need to be able to argue convincingly that the appeal school will be better for your child than the offered school. It needs to be based on things that apply specifically to your child rather than things that could be applied to any child, so league table positions and Ofsted ratings are irrelevant.

We're waiting to hear; we find out in the easter holidays as we have a 3 tier system.

OK thanks we havent got a letter, just an email. I dont think we have grounds for an appeal so will just sit it out on continued interest. Thanks again for your reply.

The letter should have told you that you have the right to appeal against the decision not to give you a place at your first choice school. If your appeal succeeds you will get a place at that school in addition to those who have already been offered places. To succeed you need to show that the benefit to your child from getting a place at this school outweighs the problems the school will face from having to cope with an additional child.

we got second choice and would like our first really. bit confused about what an appeal is. We have a right to be on continued interest list which we are. What can we appeal about? how does it work? is there any point? dd doesn't ahve special needs and nothing has changed in our circumstances.

We're happy in our house - we got our 1st choice which I expected as we only live about half a mile away. Great school, walking distance so perfect for DS who is over the moon. Did apply for grammar schools but didn't get in. That would have meant waking up at an ungodly hour and spending almost 2 hours a day commuting. In a way I'm happier with the local school. When we visited there was a great atmosphere and I loved the teachers.

Good luck to those appealing. Was on a waiting list for a primary and we were 22nd in the list but got in after a month. There is hope.

DD got her 2nd choice which was the close enough to walk to, gets 'ok' results, small, friendly Catholic school. Her 1st and 3rd choices were bus journey, huge, very good results schools.
I am pleased with the one she has got but rather nervous that 6 months from now my pfb will have just had her first day at school. Ever.

DS Got into Wilson's - so happy and proud!!

Good luck to those still waiting!

We got in to our 1st choice...pleased and relieved.

Have replied! Great news!

Mirage, have messages you!

We got our 2nd choice,which,after a taster day,was actually our 1st choice.I decided not to change the form as it would count as a late application and we'd go to the bottom of the list,so am very pleased that the 1st one was very over subscribed and we got our 2nd.

DD1 was so happy that she danced around the room.I'm happy that she doesn't have to go to the sink school that I went to and is our catchment school.Big relief in our house.

We still haven't heard from Merton (even though we applied online). I tried to access the portal but it no longer recognises my username / password and I know that they are right. Anyone else in the same position???

DS2 has the out of catchment school he wanted, his siblings are there already.

For those of you who didn't get what you wanted, I've been through it with DS1. Don't lose hope, we appealed but came up the waiting list from 27th to get a place just before appeal.

We got an email at 3.40 - supposed to be after 4pm which I was surprised at.

We got our first preference apart from the grammar we're going to appeal for. So very happy about that actually although I didn't reckon on wanting any of them. I feel a lot better now we've been told.

I'm also very glad we didn't get the other ones on our list - they were awful.

Loads of parents were going nuts today, but I didn't feel remotely anxious as I didn't really want him to get any of them tbh!

Feel a bit bad about that.

DD1 got into Pate's Grammar which was her first choice, v happy.

Ds1 got into his first choice which is our nearest school.

We are eagerly awaiting to see who else got in as his primary is a feeder school for a totally different secondary than the one we applied for. We just want to know if he will know anybody at all when he starts

We got our first choice, not really surprised as it's our catchment school which is almost always guaranteed here in Derby LEA . Really pleased for two non Catholic friends who got places at the Catholic school and also friend got her son into a great academy.Another friend got second choice which is fine. I wasn't worried for my child as we're in a fortunate position but I'm very relieved for my friends that the wait is over. We had to wait until 7.30 this morning to find out online.

No emails here yet, but I just went on the website and found that DD2 has got her place at our local (and only) secondary. She was always going to, no real choice here unless you go private, but it's good to get it over with.

Much luck, , and to all those now facing the appeals process, I hope you all get a good outcome for your DCs.

Our offer was online just after midnight last night but I had to go onto Education authority site and view my application. Just got sent a confirmation Email about ten minutes ago.

Ds got in to his choice. Hes thrilled!

We don't find out until after 5pm tonight! Letters in post today to arrive tomorrow.

I know we will get our third choice - which is a great school and dd will do well. First and second were long shots - worth a punt! Fourth is also good.