How to present ourselves in a primary appeal tribunal meeting

[Cheeseand2veg]

Our son in year 2 goes to a school behind our house that we live in catchment for. Our daughter in year 4 goes to another school 15 mins away by bike in the catchment of our old house. We've had our daughter on the waiting list for my sons school for ages but no places have come up. We genuinely think she'd do better at my son's school due to her learning style and we'd really like them to both be at the same school. We have decided to try and appeal her place. Any advice on how we should present our case?

On what grounds are you planning to appeal? Unless the allocation process has not been followed correctly you are on a hiding to nothing.

Disagree with PP.
This isn't infant class size so that's a good thing.

You need to show detriment to her by not attending is worse than detriment to the school by taking an extra pupil.

You obviously have sibling attends & travel.
You have maybe 'wanting to be part of new community'.

Are there things this preferred school offers that the current school doesn't that would benefit her?
You mentioned learning style?
What about clubs / sports teams?

No idea how strong a case it is though.
Assuming they are at 30, has there been a precedent of having 31? That would help you.

One reason for getting fed up of waiting patiently is because next year she has been allocated a TA as her teacher for half the time. We're not convinced that she will be adequately prepared for year 6 and secondary with the teaching set up she's expecting to receive. My sons school has a much healthier morale, smaller staff turnover, more creativity in lessons, higher expectations to achieve and actual trained teachers full time. We are in catchment and can see the school from our back garden. My son is thriving there and we'd love my daughter to have the same opportunities

Not sure you can say that. All schools are considered educationally OK from an appeal point of view. (And appeal panel might have family member at your current school or whatever.)

You said learning style before. If for example preferred school does forest school, or excels at art, could you argue that your DD would particularly benefit (e.g. learns better when active, has proven interest in art).

Those arguments won't work - effectively you're saying that the other 29 kids will also be having a crap educational experience, but your kid out of all of them is the one that deserves better? Why? To the panel she is no more deserving than any of the others. So you need to argue what the appeal school has that specifically means your dd is disadvantaged by not going there.

She is a talented violinist evidenced by her achieving grade 2 recently, and the appeal school has an orchestra and other musical opportunities which her current school doesn't have, or the appeal school takes part in the county primary athletics tournament which her current school doesn't and she has been attending junior athletics club every Saturday for the last year. Stuff like that is what you want.

Thanks, this is really helpful. Appreciate you taking the time to reply and give helpful feedback.