Having a difficult time as we’ve been allocated our 4th choice secondary. DS is smart (greater depth across the board) but sensitive & very anxious about going there - for valid reasons - as are we. While we try to sell him on the allocated school I’m quietly scrambling to appeal for our 1st choice (hugely oversubscribed).
Really hoping for input from people with appeal experience - stressful, uncharted territory for us.
We have 4 main questions.
- Is academic provision really an appeal-worthy argument?
- Is our child’s fear and anxiety over behaviour at the allocated school something we can mention, given we can’t be too negative towards the allocated school?
- Is the fact that the preferred school has streaming (and the allocated school doesn’t) grounds for appeal?
- Is a headteacher’s letter acceptable evidence when there’s been no third party / agency contact?
Headteacher is supportive and will write in support of our appeal on:
Wellbeing
DS on record for anxiety experienced historically at school, which required pastoral support. We support at home and it’s improved over time & with the (mostly) safe/ supportive environment he gets at primary school. So no 3rd party / agency evidence apart from school records. The school we’re appealing for has excellent pastoral care.
We’ve also had an awful family bereavement in last six months, again requiring strong pastoral provision at secondary.
Academic provision
DS is history obsessed and our first choice has a great history dept plus History Club.
Is it worth showing his work & free time research to support this?
There are other academic opportunities at the sch we’re appealing for, for children who excel - would be a great fit - but I feel mentioning at appeal may not come off well (don’t want to seem presumptuous!) How cautious should I be?
Behaviour expectations
A calm environment with clear behaviour boundaries such as the school we’re appealing for is necessary for him to feel safe and learn. DS has a clear sense of right and wrong and struggles with the chaos of a “relaxed” approach to discipline as taken by the allocated school.
Evidence- I have emails sent to school about DS’s discomfort when faced with disruption / behaviour issues (thankfully few at our primary). Hope this is the kind of thing that carries weight?
I know we can’t be negative about the allocated school but one of the reasons we’re appealing is DS’s fear of what he knows happened there (unfortunately he knows about a stabbing incident, has witnessed inappropriate behaviour from pupils’ of allocated school and is frightened). Unsure whether to mention at all?
Streaming
He’s spent most of his primary career partnering with children in his class with little English or additional learning needs — has great empathy and social awareness but frustrated after 6 years as now desperately wants to learn at his own level without having to help the teachers teach. The school we’re appealing for does rigorous setting. The allocated school no setting at all, with a huge spectrum of abilities (biggest school in the area).
Im guessing streaming vs no streaming won’t carry weight as an argument, as all schools should cater for able learners?
Thanks for helping.