In year appeal, 2 children in 2 schools?

[Bl4nking]

So I have posted recently but thought it would be easier to post a new thread. We’ve recently moved to Suffolk and applied for our children 7 and 8 to attend a school 0.2 miles away. One has been given a place and the other has not.

the next school is 1.8 miles away so I have appealed the one who has not been given a place and they have told me that it may take until September to have an appeals meeting. In the mean time, I should enrol him into the further away school. I am unable to drive due to chronic vertigo so have no idea how I would get 2 children to school 40 minutes apart. I’m already dabbling with the idea of taking a month off work in September unpaid because it’s all so much currently. If I take my daughter out and enrol her with to the further away school, then my appeal basically crumbles as my main point is the sibling element.

I’m so conflicted whether to take my daughter out and enrol them both at school but just keep phoning to see if anyone will leave by the end of term? Or to potentially try and juggle the two schools and do breakfast clubs etc.

anyone been in a similar situation?

The sibling element will not carry any weight at appeal unless you have evidence from a medical professional or similar that your children need to attend the same school. Even with such evidence, if your son's school has a place available for your daughter the sibling argument won't carry much weight. You need better arguments if you want to have a chance of winning your appeal. And, when deciding what to do, ignore any impact on your appeal. Whatever you do won't make any difference.

I would keep your DD at the nearer school and wait for a place for your DS. Do you know where he is on the waiting list? If you send your DD to the further away school, her place might go to someone else. You might get lucky and a family might move over the summer. How big is the school? This is more likely in a bigger school. Of course it is possible you may be juggling 2 schools for months.

As PP said, the sibling link is highly unlikely to be enough at appeal, even more so as another school has places for both. You are likely going to be relying on waiting lists unless you have other grounds for appeal.

What position is sibling at further school on waiting list for nearer? Sibling link won’t be relevant enough for a successful appeal but once one starts the other will likely move up wl. Does the appeal school have any specifically relevant activities for the child? Could the other child get a place at the further school? Are there any childminders who could drop off at further school while you wait for a place to come up?