Advice needed regarding appeals in London

[KellyElly]

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who is really in need of some good advice regarding appeals on secondary school places. Her daughter hasn't got into any of the chosen schools and has not even been offered a place at a school in our borough, but in another borough and the school is miles away! I am pretty shocked that they wouldn't find a place in our borough! That seems completely unreasonable.

Can anyone give any advice at all on grounds for appeal, evidence needed etc. She's really upset about this and doesn't know where to start really.

Does it make any difference that she has three kids and the school run will be impossible as he daughter will be quite young to tackle a slightly complicated journey alone? The younger two are at the same primary school.

All of the schools chosen are within the radious of where she lives and her daughters friends who live in the same area have secured places at these schools.

*radius

Her child will be expected to go to school by herself using public transport - which is why in London they don't have to lay on transport unlike most places.

Waiting lists - you just go on them because you would like your child at the school. They are ordered on the same criteria as the admissions criteria. As someone drops out the top person should be offered a place. In London there is usually movement.

Appeal - this is arguing that a school should take a child even though they are "full". There are two parts: proving the school can take extra pupils (has it done so in the past etc.); and showing why child X is more disadvantaged by not getting into school Y than the disadvantage to all the pupils at school Y of having an extra pupil.

For the second transport is not strong grounds. Any way the school appealed for offers something that the child has an aptitude/need for, will help.

Thank you very much for all your advice. My freind will be really grateful. Has been an eye opener for me too, although my DD is only five, so have a while to go before all this stress comes my way!!