Refused all 3 of our preferred schools!

[EllJai]

Could anyone give me some advice on whether to appeal, or to start a new application? After months spent looking at the local schools in our area, we finally made a decision on our top 3. Yesterday we received the devasting news that we ahve been given another school, further away than our top 2 choices, which is on special measures and a terrible area.
To complicate matters, we are moving to the other side of town before the start of the new school year. This had been on the cards before Jan 12, but a final decision wasn't made until after the application process had closed, so we planned to wait and see which of the 3 schools she would be given, 2 of which would not be so bad to travel to from the new house.
The school they have given us is over 5 miles from our new house.
Should we appeal to get one the better schools we had already applied for - if so on what grounds? It wasn't one of top 3?
Or do a new application on our new address - 1 or 2 of the schools we would ideally wish to apply for would be the same as our original application. I don't know if we would lose our place on the school waiting list if we started with a new application and result in us being at the bottom of the list?
Any adive anyone can give would be very much appreciated.

Which is closer to the schools, old or new house?

Waiting lists use the same admissions criteria as the original admissions process, so you won't go to the bottom of the list - your position would depend on distance from school, sibling priority etc etc. So if your new address is closer to your two preferred schools that would put you higher up the waiting list than if you stayed in your existing house.

Were any of the schools you put on your list your closest schools? As the waiting lists operate the same admissions criteria, the closer you live to the school (usually) the higher up the list you will be. Or are they faith schools and do you meet the criteria?

If your new house is further away from the schools you want, you will actually drop down the waiting list when you move.

Do you have grounds for appeal? If you think any admissions criteria have been wrongly applied or they have mis-measured the distacne, or there is some particular medical / social reason why the preferred schools would be the best schools for your child?

I would look again at all the schools that are an easy travel from your new house and ask to go on the waiting list of those.

When do you move house?

Thank you

The 2nd choice school is closer to the new house and the first choice closer to our current house.

It's up to us when we move as own both properties

I would make the decision to use the new house and look at all possible schools in the area. Decide which you like and apply for them / get on the waiting list. You can also appeal for these or your current school options but an appeal on the basis that you are moving house and it is only 5 miles away is going to be a very weak argument for admission.
I suspect you have more chance of the waiting lists for as many schools as you think are appropriate.