Appeal for secondary place

[Boboobobo1234]

Hi, all mums :)
Still being a bit unbelievable that council offered my daughter a place not even on our preference list. After 1 day thinking over we sent our additional preference application form to council and going to appeal schools near us (less than 1miles distance).

My DD has lupus ( immune systems disease), she has been very emotional and flare up after knowing the offer, we are going to see our doctor in Gosh, just wondering can I ask her doctor to write a letter about her condition. She get so frustrated not able get a place in same sex school.

Could any mums give me any advices suggestions or any tips ? Thank you from the bottom of my heart x

To win an appeal you will need to show that the disadvantage to your daughter from not attending the appeal school outweighs the problems the school will face if it has to cope with an additional pupil. You can certainly ask your daughter's doctor to write a letter. If it states that, in the doctor's opinion, your daughter needs to go to the appeal school (or a single sex school if that is what you mean by "same sex school") it will help. However, if it comes across as simply echoing your views it won't carry much weight.

Simply having lupus won't get your daughter into the school you want. Any school should be able to cope with that. And the appeal panel is likely to take the view that her upset and frustration are temporary and do not justify admitting her. Unless the letter from your doctor gives good reasons for your daughter needing to attend your preferred school you will need to build a stronger case by looking at what this school offers that is missing from the allocated school and seeing what you can find that is particularly relevant to your daughter.

Thank you ! Sorry, single sex school. English not my native language and this is my first experience to apply a secondary school place.

The school we focus on is very arty secondary girls school ( her second preference, 2.5 miles distance). She loves that School and we preparing all the paperwork ( her music grades , music teacher letters, art profile, letter from her primary school ... ) , also we are going to film two videos of her two instruments performing . The School place we got now is sport status School. Any mums have experienced same situation ?
Please please guide me

I totally understand any diseases are not the reason to be the key element to change school. I just worried how I ask doctor to write or just simple confirm her condition? I never put her condition on any her application form . Until now, I saw she starts suffering all the pain and stress and later on I have no idea what is waiting for us made me have idea to ask doctor’s help.

Shall I bring this to appeal panel or not ?

You’ve already had good advice from prh47bridge.

You need to assemble all the evidence you can for why your preferred school is the best one for your daughter. It’s specialism in the arts and her interest in music can be part of that, but please don’t send videos. It is highly unlikely that the appeal panel will be meeting in a room with video equipment and a simple statement that your daughter plays an instrument at a certain grade is enough.

As prh47bridge has already said, your daughter’s health condition is unlikely to be relevant, because any school should be able to meet the needs of students with a range of health conditions. You need to prepare for the possibility that you don’t win the appeal and so she will be going to the school that’s been allocated (unless you get a place via the waiting list here or at another school). Of course you’re concerned that your daughter is so upset, but you need to help her understand and accept the situation.

Panelchair, thanks !
Sorry, I was thinking it’s more believable. Totally agree , it’s may a bit too much put iPad on table.
One more question, just wondering can we appeal the schools not on our preference list but I added on additional preference list ? I reached it is law we can appeal the schools even not on the list , just would like to know any mums here challenged before ? Thank you !

Yes, you can appeal for any school to which you have applied and been refused.

If distance and travel is a factor due to her condition then the medical need is relevant.
If the sports status school makes everyone do extra sports which she can't do due to medical then that could be reason to say she needs school which focuses more on arts since her medical condition means sports are a no.

Yes, my understanding (such as it is) of lupus suggests that it isn't likely to raise issues around travel or curriculum but, clearly, if that's not so, those issues could be raised. They need, though, to be presented as arguments in favour of the preferred school, not arguments against the allocated school.