How can I get DD into a school

[Peony26]

Please help me! My daughter is really unhappy in her current school. And would like to attend a school in an area we used to live in where she knows a lot of other children. As we used to live in the area but no longer do we are no longer in the catchment, and it’s over subscribed, but every school in our area is over subscribed, including her current school.

I have childcare in the area the new school is and am looking to move back to that area, how can I get her in? I know they will reject the application, so on what grounds do I appeal, with it likely to be successful?

You move as close to the school as possible and get on the waiting list then hope for a place

What year is she in? It may be that a place comes up at the school - people leave and there may not be a waiting list for a specific year as many people are reluctant to move mid-year 9 (for example). So you may be lucky.

If not, then you can appeal but from what you say, you don't have a very good case. You need to look at what the school you want can offer your DD that is crucial to her - friends going there will not be relevant sadly, nor will childcare. What is the issue with the current school? Good things to raise are subjects offered where you can show an interest, things related to your DD's interests such as school orchestra if she play an instrument, opportunity to study xyz subject at GCSE and she has an aunt who speaks German to her/a passionate interest in computing/a great love of working with textiles - and her current school does not offer these subjects.

What clary said - have you applied yet/is she on the waiting list?

And just to be clear (apologies if you do know this!), schools can only reject an application in this scenario if they don’t have space. Being oversubscribed for Y7 doesn’t necessarily mean other years won’t have a space come up as people move house/schools. So if they have a space in the year, then it doesn’t matter whether you’re catchment or not. That also doesn’t matter for an appeal.

It only matters for determining your position in the waiting list, if there is one.