School appeal help please 🥺

[Kaychee1876]

Hi everyone I'm absolutely desperate for some advice please on what my chances are/ how to give this the best chance.
DD lives in a rural area and is within the catchment area for her first choice of school. She's been allocated a school that she isn't in the catchment for and that doesn't have a school bus route to (bear with me here). The school she's been given is an hour away and I understand this is considered acceptable however she does have severe anxiety. I have a letter from her counselling service stating she is severely anxious and awaiting therapy. It also states she should go to the school her friends have done for the emotional support she needs.
this school also has a counsellor where as the one we have been allocated does not.
I'm going to include that she loves hockey and the first choice offers this (other doesn't) but how do I prove that she enjoy hockey?
her head teacher is also willing to write a letter for us.
taking her to school myself is not an option at the allocated school as I won't have time as DS starts school at the same time half an hour away (I need to be near him at all times too as he has a very rare medical condition).
any advice would be massively appreciated.

Did they refuse your place on distance grounds?

Does your letter say she should go to the school in the professional's opinion, or that they understand that DD would prefer to be with friends?

They refused her because within the catchment area she was one of the furthest away. It says "Due to DDs history of anxiety, we feel DD would benefit from attending a local nearby school, alongside her school peers and friends she has already established a strong, trusting relationship with, who offer emotional support and comfort to DD during times of need. This will also help DD adjust to a new school environment and reduce social anxiety."

Has she a diagnosis and treatment plan for the severe anxiety?

You really need the counseling service to name the school and the reason for that otherwise.
I suggest you also visit the offered and required school to discuss what your childs needs are and what they can provide for the child.

All the hockey bit has no real value sorry. What schools may offer presently can change.

What were the criteria for the other schools you chose? How did she not get one of those either?

It would be better if it stated at <preferred school> but have all her friends been allocated the same school?

I'll get it worded to include the school name thank you! She's about to start intensive cbt, other schools were too far away. Because of where we are, all schools are far, but her first choice she is in the catchment area for and I pass the door on my way to work (literally) so I'd be dropping her off which is why I knew public transport wouldn't have been a problem for her.

Does this mean you only put down one school?????