Help - Relocation - over subscribed school - Appeal process

[Newjo75]

Hi
I'm hoping that the font of all knowledge here might be able to give me some advice. I have one unsuccessful appeal under my belt so a little fragile at the prospect!
We are moving from London to Leeds and have 2 girls age 11 going to secondary in Sep and age 5 starting yr 1. We considered schools carefully when choosing our house location and picked a new build near good schools and took the girls to visit both before we submitted application a few months ago. (Although nothing could be official until we moved) We have exchanged but are not due to complete until this year current ends on 25th July.

The council are now saying both schools oversubscribed and that we have to appeal. The schools they are offering are failing and far away and it's an over my dead body scenario

My questions/concerns are:
What do I base my appeal around?
Is it any different if moving from out of area?

We chose the secondary school because it has good results and great performing arts investment and facilities. My eldest is the head girl, sports leader, counsellor, has always attended good dance schools, lead in school play etc - Are these valid reasons?
For the youngest it was the school we could walk to and has a strong outdoor curriculum which we felt was well suited.

Location - The girls do not know the area at all so we would be driving her at first, the other school is 2 bus rides away.
School subsidies - In our contract from the house builders they mention school subsidies paid to the council and name our preferred local schools. We thought this gave us a good chance of the additional places being for residents but apparently this money just goes into a pot and is not for those that do actually need them. Can I still use this in the appeal argument? It's a legal document and We genuinely took what was written at face value.

Other than that I am at a loss of where to begin and what to base the appeal on. This is now the third time we have been in the situation of not getting the places we want so trying to ease the rage against the system and fuel it into a successful shot at this appeal
Thanking you in advance

Did you check with the LA about whether there were places available at your chosen schools and what their application procedure was for those relocating before buying? If so, do you have anything in writing confirming places?

I dont think you can use the school subsidies at appeal but your reasons about her demonstrated performing arts record plus social factors of settling in to a brand new area might work.

Hi I have nothing in writing! The council has also continuously moved the goal posts for us to get on the list. First it was exchange document, then completion, now yesterday saying also need a utility bill and something with child's name and address on. We move in 2 weeks then only 6 weeks before term starts for which we away the 2nd half

The school subsidies have to go to the whole school for extra facilities, staff etc, this might create x number of new spaces across a school but the normal admission criteria still stand, no one can control how many children in a specific year group move into an area, so it's unfortunate if your year groups are full even after expansion. I agree that the performing arts angle is probably your best bet.