Waiting list and appeals process

[LalaDipsey]

Hello. My DD has got into her second choice and we are in 2 minds whether or not to appeal for her first choice.
The only thing I don't know is - if we appeal and win do we have to accept the place or can we stay with the school we have been allocated?
We know we have 30 days to appeal, but both schools are over subscribed and if we're going to appeal feel we should do so sooner rather than later. However, in the meantime we want to further research school 2 and check if we feel ok with it. DD would like to start at school 2 and try it and move to school 1 if she doesn't but obviously that's completely unrealistic.
If we've nothing to lose by appealing (ie we don't have to take the place if we win or, can pull out nearer the time) it makes sense to appeal; but neither of us wants to start a train we can't get off at the same time!
Hope you don't mind me garnering more opinions - I don't have many people in RL to talk this through with!

If you accept the school place then that is secured. You can then appeal for the other school and see where it gets you too. If the school is regularly over-subscribed then admission appeal dates will be set up for May /June. They will gather all the appeals for the school together so that they held at the same time.
If the appeal is successful then you then have to make a decision which way to jump. If it is unsuccessful then you still have your fall back position. What you cannot do is try them out - though I do think that is an ace idea from your daughter.

That's great thank you. Means we can buy some time and try and make the right choice. Meanwhile, should we end up with school two we're in a good place anyway. Thank you.

Have you got a strong case for appeal OP?

I don't know. I know there will be 80+ appeals. The school she didn't get is close to my place of work so dd would be able to walk to and from me, should we win the appeal. Also, the school she's got into is a girls school which would mean her younger brother won't be able to go. I'm a single mum so juggling everything is tricky. The school she's got into is a bus ride away which also scares me! Whether that's good enough grounds I don't know.

None of that is really relevant for appeal. You need to show that your daughter will be disadvantaged if she doesn't go to this school. That means looking for things this school offers her that are missing from the allocated school and are particularly relevant to her - subjects, extra-curricular activities, etc.