No acceptable school offered, considering home ed. Help please!

[MayorMumbum]

I've posted a couple of threads recently about my DD not getting offered a place at any of our listed secondary schools. She has instead been offered a place at a dangerous, not fit for purpose school which has been in special measures the last few years. She will not be attending (though I've accepted the place for now on the advice of some lovely mumsnetters)
My issue is aside from my DD having anxiety, our grounds for an appeal are weak and I am doubting whether it's worth the stress though I'll probably appeal regardless.
Our plan is to home educate from September and wait for a better place if she doesn't get in anywhere else through the waiting list.
Is it easier to get a place in year 8 at local schools? Is there a better chance of getting in to a better school mid way through the year?
I suppose I'm just trying to fully grasp the situation and what our options are and what we'd be commiting to in turning down her offered school and home educating her instead. Thanks!

It very much depends on your area. My local schools have next to no movement, families don't move house much and rarely go to private schools. You would expect more movement at a city school where people may move more, but remember people will move into the area as well as out, and your place on the waiting list will change to reflect this.

Often some people don't take up the place offerred even in oversubscribed state schools but don't tell the Local authority. The places in our area is left open for six weeks to see if they show up, so the second or third week of October places often become available. After that there is not much movement.

You need to keep phoning the local authority or academy up every week through September to check your place on the list, push the anxiety angle and the home education. Don't just wait to get a place you need to be proactive.

Yes very much going to be proactive with waiting lists etc but it's difficult when there is no solid grounds for an appeal other than "over my dead body" on the school they have offered.