Secondary Appeal on basis of journey

[SchoolTransport]

I have read so many of the posts here about school appeals and how to present a compelling case, but wondered if any of the admissions experts would mind weighing in on a question I have about an appeal we’re fully expecting to be necessary after March 1st?

Most of the posts I’ve read state that transport issues rarely make a good case. What I’m wondering is whether they can ever be considered a strong reason if combined with SEN/medical reasons and the school, being appealed for is incredibly close (fence borders the playing field close). This would be an appeal for a super selective grammar after (likely narrowly) missing the score cut off, hence not getting in on distance grounds, as they are not part of the admissions criteria. We have good academic evidence and extenuating circs to support the fact that the score could reasonably have been expected to be higher and that the child meets the academic standard of the school. The child has a combination of medical needs and receives the mobility component of DLA, albeit at lower rate, which makes a nearby school overwhelmingly preferable to one requiring a bus or train journey. We will also be able to obtain supporting medical evidence.

The problem is that we don’t have a lot else to go on in terms of prejudice - the school that is likely to be allocated is actually fairly similar in terms of subjects, sports, extra curriculars etc - and is a great school. It is just much further away. I know it will also depend to a degree on the strength of the school’s case, but I’m unsure if it would be dismissed out of hand as secondary school kids are expected to travel independently to school. They do have a sibling at the school they are likely to be allocated currently, but they are in year 11 and intending to go elsewhere for sixth form (siblings not part of admission criteria). Thoughts gratefully received!

Hopeful bump…

Has your child got an EHCP?

Did they have exam access arrangements for the entrance exam?

Grammars work differently, so checking what you are saying. Did your son pass, but you suspect his score won't get him a place? Is there a chance he might get in off the WL?

I think you could build a case that his score is lower than a true reflection of his ability (with evidence of his SEN) and you could add in the travel as a factor, alongside professional evidence (DLA, ideally a letter from a professional).

I think you would need to be realistic about your chances though. The superselectives near me almost never admit on appeal as the score is quite objective and that is what they mainly go off (some ring fenced places for Pupil Premium etc). As PP said, do you have an EHCP? I'm guessing not?

I'm afraid I have no idea but I will tag the experts I'm afraid I have no idea but I will tag the experts @admission @prh47bridge @PatriciaHolm @PanelChair in the hopes that they have some wisdom to contribute.

If your son goes to the school which is further away would he have a case to get transport?

You seem to have a good understanding of how an appeal would work.

You would have to address the question of whether your child meets the academic standard expected. You would then have to address the other questions around prejudice.

Generally, arguments on the journey itself (“it’s a bus ride away and my child has never travelled by public transport”, “it’s in the opposite direction to my work and I was intending to drive my child to school” etc) carry no weight because secondary school pupils are expected to get themselves to school and, beyond a certain distance, the LEA will pay for transport. The possible exception here, though, is where the child has medical or social needs which make the journey difficult and/or mean that the child would benefit from being in a school close to home. You would need supporting evidence from health care professionals, stating that in their professional opinion your child needs to attend a school close to home and will be disadvantaged if they don’t.

To answer questions: @Lucylock no EHCP. It really hasn’t been necessary in primary and realistically any school can meet their needs, it’s simply that they will be advantaged by not having a longer journey to school - which would be the basis of any appeal. I guess the question is whether this has any chance of being significant enough when balancing prejudice to the child vs prejudice to the school (as I say - I know it depends a bit on the strength of the school’s case and obviously on the individual panel).

Child did have access arrangements, but not extra time (separate room, ability to stop to deal with medical needs etc).

@Skiphopbump won’t qualify for transport at the further school because selective schools are a choice - there are nearer non-selective schools, although not as close as the school we’d appeal for!

To add: as was discussed in another recent thread, this is about how you frame the argument. Don’t argue that the offered school is too far from home, but express it in terms of the need to be at a nearby school (with supporting evidence from health care professionals).

@BendingSpoons yes, exactly that. There is always a possibly they will simply be allocated this school next week (just think it is unlikely). There is also the possibility that they will get in from the waiting list, but we’d probably start an appeal anyway as there is no guarantee of this, obviously. And yes, no guarantee of successful appeal - we’re very realistic, but think we might always wonder if we don’t try! As above, no EHCP.

@PanelChair thank you for chipping in! This is how I’m intending to frame it so it sounds like I’m probably along the right lines. There will be a definite advantage to being closer - I suppose it will come down to whether the panel considers that advantage sufficient to outweigh the school’s case. It feels particularly tricky as the two schools are otherwise so similar, so we’re struggling to find much else to add any additional weight.

Already have agreement in principle from health care professionals to provide necessary support - I’m thinking about it now so I can move quickly next week to request that evidence if it turns out that we need it.

And @FeinCuroxiVooz thanks for providing the tags!

Yes, the panel has to weigh up the prejudice (disadvantage) to your child if they can’t attend the school against the prejudice to the school and the pupils already in it if it has to cater for another pupil. That’s why (even though the two schools are similar) it would be helpful to identify other aspects of the preferred school which would also suit your child.

@PanelChair ok, that’s the bit I wasn’t really sure about. There are a number of music opportunities and clubs that would really suit them, but most of these opportunities are also available at the school most likely to be offered, so I wasn’t sure that they were worth mentioning. For example, child plays guitar and there is a “Rock band” and jam club at both schools. They bother offer an almost identical set of subjects. The school we’d be appealing for actually states in its prospectus/on the website that it is well able to cater for one of our child’s specific needs. The other school doesn’t specifically mention it, but their policies on it are good and I’ve heard a good report on their provision, so I’m not sure we can argue that the school we’d appeal for is actually going to be better on that front.

You do need to be careful (I think) about how you express it.

You are appealing for the preferred school, not against the offered school. The strongest arguments are where you can pinpoint something the preferred school offers that the offered school doesn’t (eg your child plays the harp and this is the only school with a full orchestra, etc). There’s not much point arguing about features that both schools have in common, simply because if you say your child wants to join the jam club, someone on the panel is likely to ask whether the offered school has a jam club.

So, I would suggest that you don’t exaggerate the benefits for your child in attending the preferred school, but do paint a picture of why the school would suit your child. That’s a fine balance, I know.

Agree with PanelChair.

The biggest hurdle you will have to get over is convincing the panel that your child is of the required academic standard. If you can manage that and have good evidence that your child needs a school close to home, you've got a decent case.

Thank you @PanelChair - will bear this in mind, there’s definitely several things that will suit.

@prh47bridge thank you, it’s good to hear that it isn’t an immediate lost cause! Have academic evidence including standardised scores above 90th centile. There is a dip in performance last summer tied with extenuating circumstances that we also have evidence for. Recent standardised scores have improved again. Hopefully this supports that without the outside issues, the score could reasonably have been expected to be higher. Think we’ll just have to give it a go and see!

Having been through an appeals process , I strongly urge you not to waste the panel's time on why your child SHOULDN'T go to a different school... your appeal must be based on why your child SHOULD go to your chosen school.

The representative from your chosen school will be at the appeal. They will not be interested in why you don't want your child at a different school. They want to know why your child SHOULD be considered for their school.

Get the school's Prospectus and pore over it. Find as many of their objectives, standards and subject merits as you can that fit in with your child's abilities, likes, loves and personality.

You need to convince them that your child needs to go to that specific school.

Please don't just base your appeal on distance. It won't work.

I've worked for 20 ish years in a primary school in a county where the 11+ is part of primary school life and have heard many, many tales of appeals. With my own child I did what I was advised and won.

@GlassBunion thank you - but that is exactly what we’re trying to do if you follow the post carefully. We’re not appealing on “distance” per se, but because the school we want will present far less challenges (disadvantage/prejudice) due to its location in the context of our child’s disability/medical needs/SEN. We’re very much arguing FOR the school we want, because it is the only school which will avoid the difficulties presented by travelling each day. Well aware that “distance” isn’t usually a criteria that is considered - hence making this post.

The biggest challenge, as I explained to PanelChair above, is that aside from location there really isn’t much to set these two schools apart. I know both schools well, and they both offer virtually identical subjects, clubs, sports etc and have an overall very similar ethos. I would be more than happy with the school we’re likely to get (definitely not arguing against it) it’s just that the other school has this one huge advantage. I will certainly mention the other things which will suit my child, but I cannot overplay them. If the appeal panel have any knowledge of the other school, they’d see straight through it anyway. If the location isn’t enough on the basis of my child’s specific needs, then I guess we won’t win. But I’m encouraged from responses from appeal experts here that it is at least worth a shot.