secondary school appeal

[Twiggyy]

Hi,
I'm appealing my for secondary school place at my local school for my DD. The place im appealing was a 2nd place choice. She got her first place choice but a lot has happened in-between choosing, deadline and the reveal day.
My DD has been diagnosed with ASD and its noted that she needs support traveling to and from places. The allocated school is far and the route is complicated. Our 2nd choice school is on our doorstep and is a top school it has a paid prep school.

I have submitted my application with supporting evidence. I have given in a doctors letter stating her needs and mobility issues. I have submitted maps of both schools and I have matched my DD ability the schools strengths.

I know this wont guarantee me a place, at least I'm hoping for a waiting list place.
has anyone got any experiences of what to expect at a appeal hearing.
I feel like this is consuming me and I haven't even been given a hearing date yet.

The panel will be sympathetic. They are used to parents struggling to present their case and will do what they can to make it easy for you.

The running order is usually:

• introductions
• the school's representative gives the case to refuse admission
• you question the school's representative
• the panel questions the school's representative
• you present the case to admit your child
• the school's representative questions you
• the panel question you
• the school's representative sum up
• you sum up
• you go home and wait for the decision

The running order may vary a little but it is usually pretty close to that.

The hearing is informal. It is not a court. The panel aren't looking for complex legal arguments. They just want to hear from you why your daughter needs to go to this school.

Thankyou.
I can organise my thinking better based on that.
As I said I'm not expected to be given a place. A waiting list place will do. However it would be lovely if we got one x

An appeal is a 'place/no place' decision. They cannot decide to not give you a place but to move you up the waiting list. If you want to be on the waiting list you shouldn't need to appeal at all.

I know I'm not on the waiting list because this was a second choice school.
I think I'm trying to condition my brain to think that a consolation would be a waiting list place. No matter how far down the list.
Deep down I'm hoping for a place based on medical mobility information given and that the school is across the Rd from us. It's an academy school but very popular. I'm kicking myself for not putting it first now as I think my DD would certainly have got a place. X

You can go on the waiting list now. Just ring the local authority and ask to be put on it. Lists are held in the order you meet the admissions criteria not time on list, so you maybe quite high if you live close. Appeals and waiting lists have no connection; the appeals panel have no influence over the lists. They shouldn't even know where you are on it.

You can ask to go on the waiting list for this and any other school you would now prefer to the one you were given - even though that was your first choice. So do that now!
You should be near the top if you would have qualified for it if you had put it first. The order is based on the admissions criteria, not when you applied.

If you win an appeal the school has to take you even if "full".

You need to phone your LEA now to get yourself added. You're potentially missing out on any current vacancies from decliners right now.