Primary School Appeal chances of success?

[Montannah]

I don’t have much experience of school appeal processes etc but I just wondered what peoples thoughts were on me winning my appeal due to my circumstances. Recently moved 20 minutes drive away from old school in Birmingham due to domestic violence to be closer to family. Daughter is on the waiting list for school where i want her to go where two of her cousins go, she is 5th on the waiting list for year 5. I have appealed and they have gave me an appeal date in two weeks. Just wondered how successful you think it would be, my reasons I have put down are I have moved out of the area so ex partner does not know where we live and it will be unsafe for her to carry on attending the school as ex knows where she goes to school and could potentially wait there and follow us home to our new address. Other reasons are she needs to be at that specific school where she has family connections and a support network after what we have been through and the school is 0.5 miles from my new address. Do you think I would win the appeal? I have took her out of school now so she is not even at a school at the moment. Also what happens if they do not accept the appeal would they just send her to the closest school with a place?

Appeals are very difficult to win but your reasons are very valid so you have a fair chance. They should certainly understand why the original school was no longer an option. However if other closer schools have places they may think it's reasonable that she could attend one of those schools. Having had to appeal for my DS2 I don't envy you having to go through the process. We lost our appeal even though I thought we had a strong case on medical grounds. However he was 2nd on the list and ended up with a place anyway. Hope it goes well for you.

Seeing as it's a safeguarding issue, I would be surprised if she didn't at least get priority for the next space

Make sure you provide as much evidence in writing beforehand, such as police involvement, restraining orders, doctors' letters. It's no good turning up with documentation on the day (unless it has only been provided at the last minute), as the panel might not have time to read it.

If you can show real evidence that there is a violent relationship involved here and it is therefore imperative that your child has a new start in a new school which is unknown to the ex-partner then most appeal panels will be very sympathetic. The "but" is that it does depend on the current situation in year 5 -how far they over PAN already and, because regrettably others have used the violence card too often in the past, the panel will need secure evidence of such an issue. Social service involvement would be useful but police involvement would be better.

@Montannah good luck! Hope it goes well for you