Secondary appeal advice

[MrsKCastle]

I'm not sure if there is a thread with FAQs about appeals, if so please point me towards it!

Basically, there are 2 easily accessible schools in our town. DD1 loved the one we're not in catchment for, and DH and I also felt it would be the better 'fit' for her. But of course we have been allocated our catchment school.

I've just checked the waiting list and she is 41. 😥 So appeal is our only chance.

I want to put in an appeal, really just to show her that we've done all we could.

But I'm not at all convinced that we have valid enough reasons to be taken seriously.

What sorts of things are taken into account?

What do you think is better?

Is there a club she really wants to join that she has a proven interest in?
Or a subject offered that isn't available at allocated school?

You need to show that she will be disadvantaged if she doesn't go to the school you want and that this outweighs any problems the school will face through having an additional pupil. The kind of thing that can sway the appeal panel would be if, for example, she is very musical and the appeal school has a lot of extracurricular musical activities that are not available at the allocated school. So you are looking for things your preferred school offers that are particularly relevant to her and are not available at the allocated school - subjects, extracurricular activities, etc.

It's a performing arts school who do a lot of drama in ks2, and she has been in the drama club throughout ks2... I expect the drama club leader qould write something saying that she'd benefit from it.

They also do more music than the catchment school, and have school bands etc... DD1 has been taking flute lessons for ages, but not really practising... but I could perhaps argue that she's keen and would engage more in music in a more supportive environment?

Other than that, the preferred school is very academic/high achieving and DD1 would thrive on that, she responds well to high expectations.

Can't help feeling that it comes down to "But we like this school more!" And as it is oversubscribed, everyone wants it more!

The drama point is good. The only concern with that one is other appellants might try the same line.

The music point is also good, particularly if she is genuinely keen and you can evidence that.

Be careful around the school being academic/high achieving. That can easily come across as saying that your daughter needs a good school. That won't help with your appeal and could alienate the panel.

Yes, of course you like this school more. Appeal panels know that is the bottom line in every appeal. The question is whether you can show ways in which your daughter will be disadvantaged if she doesn't attend this school. It sounds like you can so the next question will be whether that will outweigh any problems the school will face through having to cope with an additional pupil. There is no way of knowing what the panel will think about that. All you can do is give it your best shot.

Thanks prh47bridge. I'll have to keep thinking about why we want the school.

I can see what you mean about not wanting a 'good' school. Don't want to come across as pfb.