Order of schools - thinking appeals already

[LalaDipsey]

Hi - advice please.
I know it doesn't matter which order you put schools in for the application process (secondary) and what will be, will be.
However, does it matter which order you put them in when it comes to appeal? We know the likelihood is we will get school 3 and will want to appeal to get into the other two schools (both heavily oversubscribed).
I think there is slightly more chance of getting in on appeal at our second favourite so should we put that first?
I have heard that there is 'no way' the headteacher of our favourite school would let anyone in on appeal unless they have put it first - but equally I have never heard of anyone getting in there on appeal.
Our second favourite school we think we have a chance of winning on appeal - so should we put that first??!

Any help welcome thank you

I agree I doubt you would win an appeal based on the need for single sex education (unless you can prove something specific relating to your son that means it's important for him). And if School 2 (and 3) is logistically a nightmare, I'm not sure why you would put it on your list anyway. Better to stick to your local school, at least in last place, as you may not want it, but at least your DC can get there!

You're unlikely to win an appeal on behaviour/pastoral care/smaller school unless your child has a proven need for these. Which it sounds like he doesn't. Extra-curricular might be your best shot (though these can change and might well be cut with school budgets anyway).

Of course you have nothing to lose by appealing, but you should be realistic :)

You won’t win an appeal based off what you said

you need more help with regards to this.

Appealing is not relevant right now if you're at the application stage - set that aside for later. It has no bearing on what happens at application.

For the application you should put down 3 schools you would be happy for your DS to attend (or at least, for #3 a school that you think you have a reasonable chance of getting and could live with if nothing else was available). The order you put them in should reflect your genuine preference.

Only you will know whether it's worth putting 2 schools you say you have almost no chance of getting into as #1 and #2, or whether it's worth considering other schools further away or which are unpopular due to outdated info...

Although clearly the most important thing is to get the application in on time!

I am an appeals panel Chair. Please please do not assume you might win an appeal and the appeal grounds you stated in your post are rather weak.

You must put your preferred school first. I have seen failed appeals cases where people have got their first choice and then decided they like school 3 or school 2 better.

You must be realistic. If you put 3 schools you have no chance of getting into you will be left at the mercy of whatever places are still left which could be miles away.

I agree that the grounds you’ve listed for appeal are pretty weak, you would have to demonstrate why your son specifically needs the things you prefer at the school. E.g why does he need to go to single sex, why is that extra curricular important, etc.

You won’t win an appeal by listing the points for why it’s a better school, you need to show the specific needs of your son that will be met by them

Thank you. I have changed the order I had submitted and raised our preferred school to first place.

I'm leaving the two oversubscribed schools in 1st and 2nd as there's always a chance - someone has to get in!

However, you have given me food for thought for school 3. It's a choice between our nearest school which, as mentioned above, we don't like as much or another school he prefers which is logistically tricky (& also doesn't have the nicest catchment area, but it is more creative which suits him more). I am thinking that it should be possible to move him to the school by home relatively easily if he gets school 3 and isn't happy as we are in catchment; but it is a hard decision. Especially since this will be the first time he's at school without his sisters.

I am thinking that it should be possible to move him to the school by home relatively easily if he gets school 3 and isn't happy as we are in catchment;

I would look for some figures to back up your "thinking". To move schools after the start of Year 7, you need the school to have a place. Is the school normally full in Year 7? How often do places come up? You may be in catchment, but do you match up against the admissions criteria? (If you're quite a way from the school, you may be trumped by new people moving into the area and living closer).

Personally I'd go for the closer school over logistically tricky as there doesn't seem to be too much separating them anyway. If for no other reason than he'll have more free time and more local friends, both of which are likely to contribute to general happiness :)

Thank you. This is really helpful - I'm a single mum and the children's dad has no input (he doesn't even know which school they currently do to!) and my friends think I'm mad for not putting the closest school first. It's so hard trying to make the right decisions for your children - especially the school choices since you are just expressing a preference - it's not really a choice and you don't get much control over it!

The local school has accepted every child who has started out at another school but asked to be moved to it in Y7 or Y8 if they are in catchment. I know it's not guaranteed. They go up and down between being over and under subscribed, but are normally oversubscribed. So maybe I should put them third! Eek. So hard. Thank you all.

We live really close - you can see the school from my window.

Sometimes parents win with a very weak appeal because the school information is out of date, information is missing or vague or the presenting officer does not have the information the panel needs to gain the full picture of the school.
Some schools appear to never update their statement despite numerous requests from the presenting officer and one has to wonder if they deliberately present a poor case to elicit extra children.

Much depends on the strength of the school's case.
Equally what appears to be a strong appeal case can fail because the school's argument is simply stronger.

Get the application right and avoid the stress of appeals. Put down schools you stand reasonable chances of getting into and check previous years' distances. They don't tend to vary that much.