appealing place

[SadRach76]

Hi, just after some advice so a bit of background info my son has attended a primary school for the last 7 years , this school is not local to us and my eldest also attended who is now 17.
Reasons for choosing this particular school was the fact I was working close by when my eldest started reception and as he was settled I never moved him. When my youngest now 10 was due to start E was in yr 6 so made sense to have them together and its a good school.

So my eldest carried on to the local secondary school and left last July. When I had to apply for A to attend I obviously put this school as my first choice but slipped up and only put one choice as I really didn't think they would be an issue with him getting a place!
I was wrong he has been given a place within my local council at a school 6.9 miles away!! The school we requested is in fact 9.4 miles away but we have arrangements in place with friends and family available for childcare, and we have done the school runs for the last 13 years this way.
I haven't accepted or declined the school offered but if I'm being honest they is no chance he will be attending (its a horrific school with a bad history I have friends who have worked there and have been told avoid at all costs)
The main issue is yes we live a fair distance away and I totally understand we fit no criteria for this school but my son knows nothing else he attends school in Stokesley, plays football for a local team there and spends 99.9% of his time there basically he comes home to sleep!
I immediately contacted the council to ask about his position on the W/L and was told he was 4th out of 6 I thought fab bound to be some movement but since found out 5 children in his current class didn't bother to even apply for a place and have now bene added to the w/l meaning he is now 7th out of 8!
I have sent an appeal form in and am awaiting a hearing date. I totally understand how difficult appeals are and I am appealing on the grounds of social and how his mental health will suffer if he has to attend elsewhere. He is the only one out of 37 children in his class not getting a space.
I don't have any doctors notes as he has never suffered majorly with anxiety until now!
He does'nt go anywhere on is own so to expect a just 11 year old to have to get a bus on his own 6.9 miles away with no knowledge of the area or not knowing a soul terrifies me.

Just after some advice on what other evidence I could use to support my appeal, if anyone has been in a similar situation.

Thank you

@SadRach76 nobody is saying that you shouldn't take your best shot at appeal. They are saying that if you appeal on the grounds you propose, you are likely to lose.

Put your energy into detailing all the things you like about your preferred school, and whether those things contrast it from your offered school. For example, are there clubs that are offered? Do they offer a language that your child would like to learn? Do they have support for children with emotional needs (if that is relevant) or a gifted and talented programme (if that is relevant) that outshines your offered school?

Give the panel an argument they can work with.

wasn't been rude at all just felt like I was being told the obvious if people feel there is nothing I can add to my appeal then I would rather them just say that rather than repeat your appeal is extremely weak repeatedly I totally understand my appeal is weak but I am being totally honest here. If we don't manage to get a place then we are seriously considering homeschooling as we feel that strongly. I know everyone will have their own opinions on this and that is fine.
Thanks everyone for your advice we will see what the appeal brings

HI no it's not and I do feel very much to blame but like I say I cant turn back the clock. None of the local schools are appealing to us so we are going to just sit tight until the hearing, we are seriously considering home schooling him if this doesn't work out. The only other school we have considered also is heavily oversubscribed and we not in catchment for that one either. Wish we could pick up the house and move ha ha .
Thanks @CatOnTheChair for your advice much appreciated and @PanelChair I understand what you are saying and its an awful situation to be in , I work in a school myself so know how hard it is to win an appeal based on my grounds but I need to fight this for my son , hardest thing ever having to tell him he had not got a place.
Just thought may have been some success stories on here or someone had any tips other than the obvious ones stated. Thanks everyone

@LIZS I know 5 children didn't apply as I was informed by the office at school. I wouldn't have just assumed that as of course they could have been in the same position as us. These children live near the school but I know of others who are a lot further away who have managed to get in too.

I think saying you will home school when you work isn't viable - how will it work?
How will you cover all the different subjects including techs and science practicals etc?

You lose nothing by getting on the waiting list for any school that is better than the offered one.

Whatever you do, don't say that if you don't get into this school you are going to homeschool at your appeal hearing, You don't want to come across as trying to blackmail the panel or as a hysteric,

Just stick to the facts about the school and why it's better for your son as advised by the knowledgeable posters.

I found the actual appeal quite difficult. Make notes of what you need to say in case you find it difficult on the day.

I would never assume that a parent saying they would homeschool was hysterical or trying to blackmail the panel. I would assume they were making a choice that was lawfully available to them. (The flip side of that is that any parent who thought the panel would allow the appeal to ‘save’ the child from being homeschooled would probably be disappointed).

@TeenDivided if it comes down to it we will make it work the best we can.
@QuillBill I have no intentions to mention homeschooling at the appeal and I would never try to use that to sway the panels decision!!
@PanelChair Thank you for that I don't think any one would excuse a parent of been hysterical for wanting to homeschool and in the same breath I really don't expect a panel to think oh god we need to give them a place as we don't want a child homeschooled!

IT is what it is and what will be will be , I will fight as much as I can that's all I can do

Thanks everyone

When I had to apply for A to attend I obviously put this school as my first choice but slipped up and only put one choice as I really didn't think they would be an issue with him getting a place!

Do you mean that you only put one school on your application? The is obviously a dangerous strategy as if oversubscribed the authority has no other preferences to consider and will allocate whatever is available/less popular. Have you looked at other schools and applied to go on waiting lists?

Have you investigated to see if there are any other schools that you can get to, that have capacity?

Is there anything at all that the school you want offers, that isn’t available at the school you’ve been offered?

I agree that you’d be wise to accept a place, even if you don’t want it and won’t send your son there, so that the LA cant wash their hands of you because they’ve offered and you’ve refused.