Secondary school waiting lists and appeals

6 replies

HannahTone · 23/03/2022 18:46

Will get straight to the issue, and would really be grateful for some help. So DD didn't get into any of our preference choices (we put in 6 schools), so now she's on the waiting list for all of them, and I asked today for the position, and she is at 8th position for our 4th choice, which is quite close to where we live.

Now, my issue is that the school she's been offered (which we've had to offer), and the school she's at 8th position at, are not good schools, from what I've gathered through my research and through talking to people in my neighbourhood, so I am very torn because I want to apply to another school, which I didn't consider earlier (very big mistake of mine, I do realise!), but came to know as DD's close friend who lives a few blocks away from us, got accepted into that, and hope that she gets in that school through the waiting list.

So then my concern is, would it be better to just wait for her to hopefully get a place through the waiting list either in the new school I'm applying to or in the 4th choice school, or should I appeal for both the schools? As an added note, I initially wanted to appeal for our first choice, but from what I've gathered, it's probably very unlikely that our appeal for that will be successful, so I figured I would appeal to a school that is much closer to us and has more change for success.

I would also like to add that I'm very nervous about appeals, just in general, but also I'm a single mum and have to do everything on my own, and it all seems a bit daunting and overwhelming on top of everything that's going on in my life outside of that, which is why I'm a tad bit apprehensive about appeals, but if it is the best thing to do for DD, I would jump straight into it.

Please excuse if I'm not making sense in my post, let me know and I'll try to clarify my situation as best as I can!

OP posts:

Original poster

HannahTone · 23/03/2022 18:47

@HannahTone

Please excuse if I'm not making sense in my post, let me know and I'll try to clarify my situation as best as I can!

Edit (wrong word used in second paragraph): which we've had to accept*

OP posts:

RedskyThisNight · 23/03/2022 18:56

To win an appeal you have to show the advantage to your DD of admitting her, outweighs the detriment to the school in accepting her.
So, you need strong reasons as to why you prefer that school. It needs to offer something that the school you've currently accepted doesn't. thinking it is a better school, or it having better results or her friend going there, are not good reasons for appeal purposes.
It makes no difference how far away the school is, so if you still want her first choice and can justify this in an appeal, you can go ahead.

WinterSpringSummerorFall · 26/03/2022 14:02

Appeal for all 3. There's no harm in doing so. More appeals (with reasons as mentioned in previous post) = more chance. I know you are nervous, but once you've done one, I am sure you'll get in the swing of it. Is there one which particularly fits the needs and strengths of your daughter?

Meredusoleil · 26/03/2022 20:59

I personally would just get her name down on the waiting list of the new school you didn't already apply for and the depending what number she is on the list, decide whether to appeal any of the other schools or not.

HomeHomeInTheRange · 27/03/2022 09:03

You can put her down for the new school AND stay in the waiting list for your 4th choice AND appeal to the first 3 schools in your list. If you get offered a place at your 4th choice, you can still stay in the waiting list for the new school.

Appeal success has nothing to do with distance. You need to be able to demonstrate, as others have said, that the school offers specific curriculum, clubs, facilities or opportunities that meet your DD’s talents, interests, aspirations or commitment that are not available at the offered school.

E.g your Dd is in her primary school football team and trains out of school. The offered school has no football pitches and doesn’t have a girls team, the preferred school has a thriving football club and team and pitches…

Your Dd did Spanish at primary and v much plans to do Spanish GCSE because … whatever… and the offered school only offers French and German at GCSE… etc etc.

Also: don’t base your decisions on gossip and chit chat, especially from parents who do not have children in the school. Asking questions of parents who do have kids there can be informative though.

And read the Ofsted reports from beginning to end.

Good luck!

Yellow212 · 01/04/2022 15:55

Hi, have you put her on the waiting lists for the school you want her to attend. I'd say this is your highest chance of getting the school she wants. My DD was not offered any of her school choices, and was given a school we would point blank refuse to send her too.We put her on the waiting list for both her first and second choice, and had also submitted an appeal for her second choice school, as our case to win the appeal for this school were stronger than the case we had for her first choice. As it happens last Friday we recv and email to adv she had been offered a place at her first choice so there is no longer the need for the appeal. I would say sit tight get her on as many waiting lists as you can (for the schools you would like her to attend) and write an appeal letter just incase. There is tonnes of movement right up until the start of term in September. X

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