If you got a place at your third choice school

[Ormirian]

and you were really not sure about it, would you reject that place and appeal to get into the first 2? Not me, I'm happy with mine and anyway 2 of them are already in secondary! But a colleague. She's not sure where to go now.

She shouldn't reject the place as doing that won't make any difference to rhe appeal and might make the panel feel she is trying to blackmail them into giving a place.

She should make sure she is on the waiting list of the first two and any others she is interested in. In an appeal she needs to show either that a mistake has been made in the allocation (ie distance is nearer etc) or how the school has reasons why her DC should gp there rather than allocated school. Reasons such as childcare won't work or or being not a "good" school.

There arw various experienced MNetters in the appeal field - prh47bridge, panelmember and admission are very knowledgeable

Thanks.

I think her main reasons for appeal are childcare so I'll tell her that won't wash.

I feel a bit ruffled TBH as the third place school is the one my 3 have been through and have been very happy but everyone has difference expectations I suppose.

i'd just kill myself now tbh

Weird reply there sexymomma

Ormirian I can see why you feel a bit miffed at her not wanting the school your DC have been through.

Yes I have held back from passing the response along to my colleague...

Only reject it if you have a private school place or homeschooling plans all ready as back up! Not really logical why someone would apply for a school they were planning to reject. It's different if you are willing for your child to start there and move when a place comes up at the preferred school.

Well, if she rejects the place, she runs the risk of having no (state) school place at all. Having offered once, the LEA are under no obligation to find another place. I think!

Thankyou