Secondary school appeal - extra-curricular success stories please!

[Greenfingers1980]

I've been reading countless threads on here about secondary school appeals and have picked up lots of good advice from regular posters. Now my appeal is approaching for my DC, I'd like to ask a few questions that I hope others with more experience may be able to answer.

I understand that it's ok to flag an extra-curricular offering or an academic subject that the first choice school offers and the allocated school does not, but has anyone ever won an appeal on this as their main argument? Both of these apply to my DC but I'm not sure if it is enough on its own. I am also flagging journey to school but it's not a strong argument (first choice school is 1 mile walk through a familiar neighbourhood with friends whereas allocated school is 2 mile wak through unfamiliar territory with no friends to walk with) as well as parental support network which would be strong for our first choice school. As in, plenty of DC friends live near the first choice school and he is always welcome at their homes if I have a clash with school runs/after school activities for my two younger DCs.

Do I need a reality check that I even have a hope of success?

From what I have read on here, journey is not relevant, unless it was utterly unreasonable

As you are closer to first choice than second, are you quite high up the waiting list?

Officially our allocated school is our closest but that is as the crow flies and not a safe walking route. We're currently 21 on waiting list for first choice school.

“…allocated school is 2 mile wak through unfamiliar territory with no friends to walk with.”

I would suggest that this carries far more weight than extra curricula activities.

”I would suggest that this carries far more weight than extra curricula activities.”

That is absolutely not what I have read on here!

Yes I'm surprised by this view - from my reading of these threads I thought the route to school would carry very little weight but am hoping it adds a little extra towards tipping the balance in our favour as it builds the picture?

At secondary school, I think anything over 3 miles can merit LA allocated transport. So a two mile walk wouldn’t move the needle, I don’t think.

As DD hardly ever speaks to children from her old primary school despite walking the same road I don't think you should put too much hope on the fact that your child is walking alone. They will form new friendships and meet people who walk the same way.

Unless there is a huge safety issue like crossing a double carriage way or no pavement, I don't think journey should be a problem.
Is there public transport available?

Also, a Y7 child should be able to be at home for a short period of time after school, believe me, the last thing he will want is you picking him up.

What are the extra curricula clubs and the academic subject and can you evidence current interest in them from DCs?

If there is a big difference between as the crow flies and safe walking route, you may find other walkers from your postcode.

Thanks for this - I think you're probably right @reluctantbrit.

So, back to my first question - has anyone ever heard of success stories where the case was built around the first choice school having an unusually strong extra-curricular offering in an area the appellant is passionate about and offering a GCSE subject that follows this passion that the allocated school does not offer?

@SheilaFentiman we live in a very close community so I know there would be nobody from around us walking the same way to the allocated school sadly.

The extra-curricular area the first choice school excels at is Music. They have countless choirs/ensembles and offer lessons in every instrument you could think of. They also offer Music GCSE. The allocated school offers none of the above and my DC has been learning instruments for 3.5 years and it plays a huge part in boosting his confidence/wellbeing/enjoyment of and engagement in school.

What is your actual reason for wanting this school?

I have known people be successful because of GCSE option - it was a language and they had a compelling reason for wanting to learn it.
Does your DC have a very specific reason for wanting the GCSE option or is it just one of several reasons for wanting the school?

That sounds like a good case!

Honestly, it's weak. But the school's case could be weaker. The journey issue isn't going to count at all. Not one bit. If the 2 miles walk isn't safe, that's different but it would still be a different process that you would use to address that. If it is just unfamiliar, that's what the summer holidays are for.

In what way is your DS passionate about the extra curricular activity? Are we talking "wow, cool!" when looking at a prospectus, or "has already done activity out of school, regularly participates in activity, etc?"

Cross-posted.
I think that sounds reasonably good but I am not an expert.

Very sad that all schools don't offer musical enrichment.

@EarthlyNightshade my actual reason is because I want my DC to be able to pursue his music-making that he has so diligently worked on for the last 3.5 years with a view to joining ensembles at secondary school. I also believe Music GCSE would be of interest to him so I don't want to shut that door.

Ok, so I would base your appeal about the music, definitely, rather than the journey.

@Lougle thanks for your input - I have been following your advice on other posts so appreciate your thoughts. He has been learning 2 instruments for 3.5 years (one had a significant break due to covid disruption but the other he managed to continue with remote learning which was a challenge but he persevered). He has a couple of exam certificates and I have letters from both music teachers to prove he is a keen/engaged music student who practises and is progressing quickly. They also show he has been learning for several years so this isn't something we've jumped on to try and win an appeal! I also have evidence from both schools about their extra-curricular music offerings - one is abundant, the other almost non-existant.

@Lougle would you recommend I totally drop the journey to school point? Does it distract from the Music argument or could it add a tiny bit of extra ballast to tip the scales?

The argument about walking to school is weak. The argument about music provision is far stronger, but nobody can predict whether it will prove stronger than the school’s case for not admitting.

Thank you @PanelChair - I have done my homework and the school is above PAN in every year group currently which I hope may help a little? They also have a decent churn rate every year as I've asked about that.

Being over PAN may help you, in that you can argue that the school evidently can cope with extra pupils (although the school may turn that round and argue that being over PAN leaves them with even less capacity to accommodate your child). I doubt that churn will help you, as you’d be asking the panel to gamble on whether a child will leave to create a space for yours. Obviously, they might but the panel can’t speculate.

I think you need to do what you can live with. The journey argument is very weak, but if you are going to sit at the end of a failed appeal and think "if only I had just added that detail about the journey..." then include it. The panel can ignore it.

I think your issue with the PAN can go either way, as @PanelChair says. Key questions to ask on the day will involve health and safety issues due to being over PAN. What do they do currently to accommodate the extra pupils in a year group? Bear in mind though, that any questions you ask will be answered and the answer might not go in your favour. For example, they might say "teaching is really difficult because we have two tables per class that have to squeeze extra children in and they're very cramped".

Good luck.

Thank you @Lougle - very helpful advice. Their GCSE results are excellent and continue to improve year on year so I'm also hoping that helps support the "you are coping fine being over PAN in every year group" train of thought...

@Greenfingers1980 most of the appeal success stories l have read on here, had gcse subject & extra curricular as part of their points for the appeal rather than main points. These cases have also involved medical/ social grounds or SEN/EHCP. That's not to say your case can't win as the school case might be weaker as someone has already pointed out. Go for it and you might be sharing your success story in few days time. Goodluck.

Good luck Greenfingers1980. I am also appealing based on academic reasons and extracurricular activities