High school appeal advice

[Lorr1911]

My Son has always attended primary school in the next borough, due to a move for family reasons I didn’t want to uproot him.
He has ADHD, social communication difficulties, anxiety and separation anxiety.
I applied to the two high schools local to his primary school and didn’t get either. His friendship groups are very important to him and his well being . I applied to the high schools on the social and medical criteria. I provided 3 letters to support his application from his psychiatrist, padeatrician and school senco.
He was offered a high school near to where we live where he will know no one and his anxiety and worry is much worse now and not sleeping I think it will be very detrimental for him to not go to either schools I applied for.
We don’t have a family support network it’s just me and my son and one older sibling at home. I’m looking to appeal but as I have already provided evidence I’m not sure where I go from here TIA
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You are appealing to an independent panel who have not been involved in the admissions process. You can argue that the decision to refuse to put your son int he category for social/medical needs was unreasonable, assuming the schools have such a category. If they don't have such a category, you can argue that his needs mean that the detriment to him from not being admitted outweighs any problems the school will face from having to cope with an additional pupil.

To strengthen your appeal, look for any aspects of the appeal school (subjects available, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care, etc.) that are missing from the allocated school and are particularly relevant for your son. Those will help you win your appeal.

thank you for your reply,
the social and medical needs category is number two on their criteria.
I was thinking it’s just not a social enough need for them

That doesn't prevent the appeal panel from overruling them. But don't rely on that - find other arguments as well as per my earlier post.

some schools are very specific about the evidence that needs to be provided to meet social/medical need. That doesn't mean the panel can't over rule on that. They may decide that your son's needs make this school the better choice regardless. But do your best to help the panel as much as possible. Read the admissions criteria for the school carefully and look to see what you might have missed. If you can provide that now, it will help. This will be the first time the panel is looking at it. The school will get to provide their side in the panel, then you will get to present your case. The panel will consider all the evidence. Unfortunately, as much as the panel may be sympathetic to your son, simply needing to be with friends that he knows won't be enough.