Secondary school admission, what evidence is required for "medical reasons"?

[AwkwardAnnie]

My daughter is in Y6 so we've got decisions to make about secondary schools. Our closest school isn't very good. DD and I have looked round on previous years and I really don't like the feel of it. We prefer a school which is only a couple of miles away, and we're probably still in the catchment for but is pretty popular. DD has now also decided she wants to go to that school, even though I expect most other people from her primary school will be going to he local school.

DD has quite low self esteem and confidence, she's been in Nurture groups 4 afternoons a week at her primary school (it's a fantastic supportive school) and it's done wonders to improve her confidence and self-esteem. It's never been serious enough that I've looked for external help or taken her to the Dr's, but it's enough that if she doesn't get the right support and atmosphere at school then it would really impact on her learning. What I've heard of the local school (from very very good sources) they really don't offer this kind of support (someone to talk to occasionally when she's feeling anxious, a nurturing atmosphere.) It's not a very positive learning environment. The other school had much more of this atmosphere when we looked around and we've only heard positive things about it. So obviously we'd much prefer that school.

I've put this information on her school application for next year, but would I need extra evidence from a GP for it to be considered or would information from the school be enough? Should I phone the LA and ask?

I'm really hopeful we'll get in anyway, but I'd like to do anything feasible to increase our chances so I can reduce the stress of it all for both of us. She's really got her heart set on the other school now.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

What does the exact wording of the criteria say? This may be detailed further down the page rather than in the criteria order list but it should be there somewhere.

For community schools in my borough the wording is:

"Medical Grounds
This refers to the health of the child for whom a place is being requested and for whom the requested school is the most suitable in the area to meet the child’s medical needs. It must relate to a recognised medical condition for which the child is receiving treatment. Medical evidence must be provided to substantiate the claim. The medical evidence will be sent to the Health Authority for advice in determining whether the child should be prioritised on medical grounds with regard to admission to the requested school."

Each authority and academy can set their own admission wording and as long as it is fair and correctly applied then their own definition will stand.

The honest answer is that you need to think about the right school without this possibility of medical needs.
Most Local Authorities and schools that are their own admission authority have a very high threshold for medical needs, which based on what you have said you will be no where near that threshold. It would normally require a letter from a consultant to have a reasonable chance of success. By all means get a letter from your GP but it needs to say words to the effect of ..... in my opinion school X is the right school for Y because of their.....
If it says Mrs Y tells me that ....... then it will carry no weight at all.

Much depends on what the admissions criteria and booklet say but, essentially, they'll be looking for evidence from a health care professional, that in their opinion the school is the only one able to cater for your child's needs.

On what you say so far, I doubt you will meet the criteria for medical and social need, because all schools will have experience of helping unconfident children make the transition to Y7.

Thanks for your answers. I've read the policy till I'm cross eyed this evening and I suspect you're all right. DD's problems are serious enough (thankfully) to warrant as appropriate criteria so wouldn't be considered under that section.

I do think the second school is the right school for her which is why I'm really hoping she'll get in. If I can use the extra support she's had at primary school to add some weight to the application I will, but I don't think it'll be considered from what I've read and what you say.

Panel I'd like to think that all schools have support there for anxious children, but from my knowledge of this particular school they really don't. I have insider knowledge of the school which is why I'm really against her going there.

Unfortunately our council have in the past year introduced "Partner schools" and being at a Partner school takes priority over distance. We're about 200m away from school 1, and 2km away from school 2, but lots of Partner school children live much further away than 2km. Until last year we'd have easily got in on distance, but it's not the case this year.

You may be right that the support at one school is better than the support at another, but it's pretty much a certainty that, at any appeal, the school and/or LEA will argue that all schools are equipped to deal with transition and are able to provide nurture groups or similar. That's what any appeal panel had to work with. The med/soc category is usually reserved for children with a high level of need - such as a child who uses a wheelchair needing a place at the only school with lifts - who usually provide supporting evidence from a consultant or other health care professional.

I know this isn't what you're hoping to hear.