Appeal on medical and social grounds

That's great thank you for letting us know

Congratulations. That is good news. Glad I was able to help.

Wow, well done! (And thanks for updating).

Ah happy for you!

Do you know what swung it, out of interest? Guess you may need to wait for the letter with reasons.

Congratulations! That must be a great relief to you. Wishing you a happy new chapter in your family's life x

"One additional pupil adds around 100 teaching hours per year (marking, homework, reports, meetings, etc.)."

@ByPerkySnail did they include a rationale or reference for this estimate, e.g. a link to a research paper? (I don't doubt its a reasonable estimate, but I'd be interested to read about how it's worked out).

Of course, if they didn't include a reference, then there's a question you can ask.

The key thing is make sure that your medical evidence actually shows HOW his conditions make it harder for your son to travel.

If your son's asthma makes travel difficult how does it and why does it?
If your son's anxiety makes travel harder how does it and why does it?

Remember that he is going to school, so don't use anything general that might apply in school like he doesn't like crowds or being in crowds might aggravate his asthma because if he is ok with the large number of people in school, he's ok with a bus.

If the LA hasn't offered a place anywhere, it potentially helps as, rather than comparing with another school, the appeal panel should be comparing with OP's son not having a school at all. If there is no offered school because OP hasn't applied to the LA or to any other school, it could hinder her a little, especially if it feels to the panel like she is trying to bully them into admitting her son to this school by refusing to consider any alternatives.

Hey @ByPerkySnail I know it must seem tough – “why can’t they just admit my son, only one more person” – and I sympathise, but having been a secondary teacher I can also see the school’s PoV.

I didn’t even teach a pressurised subject in terms of equipment (like science – not enough Bunsen burners – or CS – not enough computers). But one year I had a top set with 33 students. I could sit 32 students in my classroom. So whenever I had that class, unless (and I would check in hope each day, awful tho that sounds) someone was off sick, I had to have a student (a different one each time, for fairness, so I had to keep switching the seating plan) sitting sideways on to a desk that already had two people sitting at it, sharing a text book (I only ever had enough for one between two) three ways. So not ideal.

If the school already has six extra students, that may mean that situation is in place in many classes already. You need genuinely compelling reasons to overturn the school’s view.

@BendingSpoons makes a good point tho – can you find out how the forms and teaching groups are organised? 280 is not a multiple of 30 so I wonder how they do it.

I would ask a bit more about how they organise their classes. 280 is a more unusual PAN as they are often multiples of 30. Potentially 280 is 10 forms of 28, meaning with 286 there are some forms of 18 and some of 29. You could potentially argue 29 is not an unreasonable number for a form, especially if many classes already have 29 in them.

@prh47bridge I don’t think that OP has an allocated school yet, is that an issue?

None of us has seen OP's medical evidence. Those who say she has no chance are guessing. They are also ignoring the possibility that the appeal school offers subjects her son wants to study that may not be available at the allocated school, which is a significant point in her favour. I am not saying she will win, but she clearly has a chance.

Tbh OP I don't think you stand any chance at all. Asthma is very common and if anything wouldn't going to a school further away mean a bus rather than walking, so less likely to
exacerbate asthma?

Many many children are anxious about starting a new school amidst parental divorce.
Agree with a PP you seem to have decided your child is highly vulnerable without really strong evidence for this.
To me I'm afraid it reeks a bit of parent coming up with every reason they can think of why their child should get a place at the 'better' school.

Sadly I don't think you have much recourse here.
You state that your child is 'highly vulnerable'. That seems to be a diagnosis that you have put on him. He isn't disabled. He has a common childhood condition and is going through a difficult time with his parents separating (as many children do) and a house move. Is he having any therapy for this?
Of course this is distressing for you as a parent to watch but I do doubt it will hold up in an official process.

If it helps, my daughter has anxiety, asthma, and ASD. When it came time for her to travel to school independently, we practiced almost daily for months. Eventually she got comfortable enough to make the trip solo. Part of the issue was that it’s very chaotic and busy when she has to travel so we worked our way up to that, initially practicing during non-peak times.

that is how we have added additional destinations as well, though thankfully it has gotten easier and most only take one trip with a parent now and then she is good to go on her own the next time.

I agree, but each parent makes their case in a bubble. Some of the cases I see are incredibly weak, which is a waste of everyone's time, and a waste of public money, but unfortunately they still do have the right to appeal.

Occasionally, parents with weak cases will get lucky, especially if appealing to a school that is not used to defending cases, or a school with a new building that it needs to fill.

I kind of agree.

I think those are the standard sort of responses that schools make.

The worrying part imo is the position on the waiting list, which seems huge for a Year 9 in a school which says it doesn’t have much pupil movement. Year 8 is already over PAN by 6 , and if one in ten of those people on the current waiting list for next years Year 9 thinks they have a good case for an appeal and has decided to make one , the school is going to fight back hard to make sure they don’t end up with a PAN plus 11 or more to cope with . I think only a very strong case will succeed, and I am not sure that the OPs case sounds strong enough.

• expat children not empatisk.

True.

But the description of this school does not match the needs that are formulated for the child so why appeal for it?

It will also be a massive adjustment to come from an overseas international school for empatisk children (private?) to a state secondary as a teenager. A world of difference for most families but it the way it works if you relocate between countries. Tbh most state schools don't spend a lot of time afjusting children from overseas to life in Britain it's not their job.

In reality all state secondary schools will be able to accept most student. The differences between secondary state schools are usually minimal and they have other students with extra needs.

If you want more from a school and to have a bigger say you need to go private.

The distance isn’t an argument unfortunately. My autistic and highly anxious son currently take a train and a bus to school (he is 12).

The waiting list position may be a typo or it may be that you have gone down the waiting list. This can happen if people living closer to the school or in a higher admission category apply for a place. Equally, if you now have enough evidence to convince the school your child should be given social/medical priority, you will move up the waiting list. Note that the appeal panel cannot change your position on the waiting list. That is a matter for the school, so you need to submit your evidence to them and ask them to review if your child now qualifies for priority.

Looking at the school's case, this is pretty standard. Contrary to what a previous poster says, it does not sound like this school is on the verge of chaos.

If you know they have more than 286 students in other years (or have been over 286 in any year in the recent past), I would highlight that as it suggests they can handle more pupils in this year. On the Health & Safety point, I would ask if there have been any accidents in the last 3 years that were attributed to overcrowding. The answer is almost certainly no. That apart, I wouldn't bother too much with the school's case. You aren't going to make any serious dents in the rest of their points, so you should concentrate on making your case as good as possible.

You could say that about all school appeal defences that are solid enough to withstand the appeals process. Otherwise, any parent would be able to get their child in, even with some of the extremely weak cases that are frequently lodged.

Will your child thrive at that school?
It sounds like it's on the verge of chaos.