Appealing for a place in Year 10

[Livinghappy123]

To cut a long story short my dd age 14 wants to go to school. She is home educated. She has been on the waiting list for our local catchment school for over a year. Currently number 4. LEA say there's very little chance of her getting a place now. DH has found schoolselect.co.uk and the chap behind it has said he can help us win an appeal.... I'm not sure we need his help but after a long chat with my husband he said he can start on the case tomorrow.

We were told dd can have a place in the low performing academy in the next town bit we'd rather carry on home educating.

Any advice in how to go present the appeal? We aren't holding out for much hope as we know not many kids leave school at the beginning of year 10. We are in a London borough but I can't say which. Thanks in advance

Sorry about the typos

I doubt that schoolselect can tell you anything you don't get from MN.

The essence of any appeal
Is demonstrating why that school is best able to meet your child's needs and whybthe disadvantage to your child if they don't get a place outweighs the disadvantage to the school if they have to admit one more pupil.

First of all, ask your preferred school for their current numbers in each year group. If they already have more than their published admission number in any year, that tends to suggest - although it doesn't necessarily prove - that they could cope with additional pupils. Then, identify things about this school that make it a good fit for your child, whether that's curriculum provision, extra curricular activities, pastoral support or the like. At appeal, you could also perhaps argue that, having been home schooled, it's all the more important for your child to be at the catchment school, mixing with local children and making local friends, to ease the transition into school.

I wouldn't use schoolselect. My experience is that paid advice is a big risk. I have come across far too many cases where paid "experts" have given extremely poor advice which has significantly reduced the chances of success.

Agree with PanelChair's advice.

Is the academy the LA has suggested more than 3 miles from home by the shortest safe walking route? If so, would it take more than 75 minutes each way by whatever form of transport the LA would provide? If the answer to both questions is yes you can argue that there are no schools with places available within a reasonable distance from home and that, therefore, she needs to be admitted on appeal to a school that is within a reasonable distance.

Thanks to you both. We are visiting a school out of borough next week although they say they are full. They do have a social and medical needs criteria... Dd would be happy at this school because it's single sex and she feels more comfortable with it. Would this meet the social needs criteria? She's not unhappy at home but she's had some down moments, I dnt feel comfortable sharing here. Our GP told her to speak to her in private next time, perhaps sensing dd's sad mood. Would a letter from the GP support an appeal?

No, that's nowhere near enough for social needs. It needs to be something supported by evidence from a medical professional or social worker showing that your daughter has a particular need to be at this school. A letter from your GP would only help if it says that, in your GP's opinion, your daughter needs to be admitted to the school for which you are appealing and explains why.

Just phoned our closest school. They won't allow us to visit and they said I'd have to contact LA about the number of students in their current year. Lady didn't sound at all welcoming. Feeling disheartened and not ready for this level of stress!

We're going through this at the moment, also currently HE. I think the school saying you have to contact the local authority is fairly standard advice IME, so don't get disheartened by that. It's really frustrating all the waiting and uncertainty though.

What are your options and how old is your child? It's hard enough struggling with accepting home ed has come to an end and then adding to that the stress of an appeal. We have a visit to a school on Monday. If that doesn't work then we'll go for an appeal ourselves to one school but dd will continue with home ed during the summer with the view to continue if the right school place doesn't come up.

Is there a private school she could go to till a place comes up at your preferred school?
Poor girl she sounds very sad and perhaps socially isolated?
Hope it works out 💐

Hi living, my DD will be going into year 10. There are local schools our catchment area, one where girls that bullied her are going, which has places, and one where her friends are with no places, which is where she wants to go, although also not oversubscribed, so chances are a place will come up at some point. I think we have a pretty good case for appeal but we'll see. It's made getting on with home ed difficult these past few weeks since she decided she wanted to go back, so we basically just gave up and will start again next term wherever we are. I've loved HE but it's hard work as I also work pretty much full time, which limits DD's opportunities to get to things. It just feels like everything is in limbo really.