Late entry grammar school appeals

[Fiddleandcats]

We failed to apply on time for DD to attend out-of-catchment grammar school, for no particular reason except that it was a busy time and she was settling in to her new secondary school (strange variety of transfer arrangements in our area!). After the deadline she started pestering us and so we put in a late application, she was tested, achieved a very good score and as a result of the test has been placed second on the waiting list. We are appealing as we understand that once places have been offered on appeal, the waiting list becomes fairly irrelevant. She's very keen to attend, and the academic standards are much higher that those of the "satisfactory" school she now attends. Any tips for a successful appeal?

once places have been offered on appeal, the waiting list becomes fairly irrelevant

Just to get the details right, the waiting list is irrelevant to appeals. If there are any successful appeals the children involved will be admitted immediately. No-one will then be admitted from the waiting list until the year gets back down to PAN. However, once that happens the waiting list will determine who is admitted.

Given the events you describe it is very unlikely you can argue that admissions were administered incorrectly and your daughter should have got a place. You therefore need to show why this school is right for her. The fact she is keen to attend and the academic standards being much higher than her current school will not, I'm afraid, make for a successful case. You need to show the panel what features the grammar school has that will be of particular benefit for your daughter. Does it, for example, have after school clubs that will be good for her? Is it particularly strong in subjects for which she has a talent? Anything it has which is missing from your daughter's current school and which you can show would be particularly useful to your daughter will help.

Don't be negative about your daughter's current school. That won't help you win your appeal. Concentrate on being positive about the grammar school.

Thanks very much! I was thinking along those lines - the points you mentioned are all relevant to her. I also wondered how much the fact that we failed to apply for the school initially would count against us.