Appealing on faith grounds - any experience?

[ElphabaFlies]

Bit specific, but wondering if anyone can help.

My DS currently attends a nursery class at a CoE primary school. We applied for a reception place and he didn't get one. We live in the parish for this school but worship at another CoE church.

They prioritise in the order: SEN&LAC / children attending the linked church with a sibling / all other siblings / children living in parish and atttending another CoE church / out of parish attending another CoE church and so on.

We're appealing on faith grounds - the school we've been given isn't a faith school, but anything particular we need to focus on? I sway from feeling vaguely confident to utterly despondent at the moment!

Thanks in advance.

Was there any reason you didn't just attend the linked church? The problem with our CofE school is that it's so over subscribed that the other churches listed don't count for much at reception entry. Several people I know changed the church they attended to ensure they didnt get penalised. You may need to explain why?

Is this an infant class size appeal ie are there 30 children per class?

Assuming it is an infant class size appeal and you we're put in the correct category you won't win. Wanting a religious school is not enough, even if not ICS.

Yes, ICS.

We didn't switch churches because, well, we felt it was immoral and we are heavily involved in our church anyway.

Thanks for honesty. All feels pretty ridiculous tbh!

tiggy, no - we're in parish but attending another coe church. Folk living out of of parish who go to the right church take a lot of places whereas we can't get one living in parish because we go to the wrong one.

Elphaba, I can understand why you preferred to stay with your church but the appeals panel have to apply the criteria as they exist unless they break guidelines, which these don't.

Are you on the waiting list for other faith schools you would prefer to your allocation?