Help!! secondary school appeal

[Lou22345891]

Hi, DS was offered he’s 3rd choice and we are all devastate he didn’t get he’s first but the school is over subscribed and has 2 feeder primary schools so very difficult to get into. Anyway, I am planning to appeal against the decision but I don’t know where to start. He is my eldest so I’ve never dealt with an appeals process and feel very out of my depth. My son has a physical disability that makes him a target for bullying. (It’s already happened in primary school) 1st choice school is a faith school and he is christened and also done he’s conformation, we have a supporting letter from the priest from our local parish. We have a support letter from our occupational therapist to support he’s needs to be in an setting where there isn’t an high intake of children. Apart from that we don’t really have a lot to go on the school he was allocated is very rough and I feel he won’t survive on that school and it breaks my heart to even think about it but I know I can’t put that on the appeals form. If someone could please help me with how I word the appeals form or have any advice. I would really appreciate it.

Also has anyone won and appeals l, would love to hear some positive stories as I feel very deflated at the moment!

Thank you

A little over 20% of secondary school appeals are successful. A significant proportion of those who fail misunderstand the appeals process and base their case on things the appeal panel will not take into account.

There is no specific form of words you need to use. You just need to make your case clearly. To win, you need to show that your son will be disadvantaged if he doesn't go to the appeal school.

The faith aspect is unlikely to win your appeal. You may be lucky and get an appeal panel that will take faith into account, but most won't give that any weight.

The bullying argument would be stronger if he was attending the allocated school, being bullied and the school was not doing anything effective to stop it. The possibility that he might be bullied won't carry much weight.

The occupational therapist's letter will help, although it would be stronger if it specifically said he needs to attend the appeal school in their professional opinion and sets out their reasons.

You need to look at anything your first preference school offers that is missing from the allocated school - subjects, extra-curricular activities, facilities, etc. It will help your appeal if you can show that some of these are particularly relevant to your son.