Hi, I've had a read through lots of threads on here about secondary school appeals and I apologise for adding to them but just in need of some advice.
My daughter has been offered second choice secondary school. We missed 1st choice by 40m and have since found out we are currently 4th on the waiting list. I haven't yet asked if the school waiting list gets much movement so not sure if 4th is good or not!
So I'm looking at appealing and here are my reasons.
I know normally distance isn't taken into account, however #1 is closer and the bus stops directly outside the school or a 15 min walk. #2 school is a 10 minute walk to bus stop either end or a 30 min walk. This is important for us as my daughter has a complex cardiac condition and can get exhausted - especially after a day at school. She is generally good and knows her own limits but I'd like her to be independent and get to/ from school on her own and enjoy her day without the tiredness. Also on this note, while both schools do not have their own sports grounds (they both use independent grounds), #1 uses a minibus to transport the students to and from the fields, whereas #2 walk there and back (no other option) which is 22 minutes each way. That plus a double pe lesson would leave my daughter very fatigued for the rest of the day and possibly the following day. .I would like her to be able to join in just like the other students but fear this wouldn't happen often at #2.
The other reason which may seem silly to some is that my daughter had her heart set on studying textiles (her older sister did this and she's fallen in love with all things textiles! Even asking for and getting her own sewing machine for Christmas!) #1 offers textiles from year 7 to A Level, yet #2 doesn't even offer it at all. This is something my daughter is extremely upset about but not sure if it's worth mentioning?
Other thing to mention but probably not important is that #1 is single sex school, coed 6th form and #2 is coed school, no 6th form. My daughter desperately wanted single sex school. She spent Yr 5 being tormented by a boy in her class and that boy has now been offered a place at #2.....
Any thoughts on if it's worth appealing?
I was originally going to apply under their medical/ social criteria but at the time I was caring for my mum who was losing a very sudden and nasty battle against cancer (she passed on Nov 1st). I was in such a state that I ended up applying on 22nd October under sibling criteria, forgetting that year 13 doesn't count for siblings (my own fault).
I can gather the obvious medical details of her heart condition - she will be requiring more surgery soon and her current primary school is writing a supporting letter stating they also feel #1 is better suited to her needs.
Any help from anyone would be really appreciated!
Thanks x