Secondary school appeal

[mumofboys1863]

Hello reaching out for any advice or support please. My son was not placed at any of our preferred choices for secondary school. After much thought we have decided to appeal. Has anybody got first hand experience of paying and using an appeal service? Or are we better to represent ourselves?

Why did he miss out? Was his priority correctly categorised and distance measured? What does your preferred school offer which would specifically benefit him?

Where were you on the admissions criteria for each school? What are your grounds for appealing?

You don't need an appeals service. If you tell us why he didn't get a place, and why you want it, we can help to pick through your stronger and weaker grounds for appeal to help you build your case.

All oversubscribed unfortunately. Our first preference we hit the criteria with being at a feeder school but looks like we missed out on distance. Other's in same category that were admitted live slightly closer. He is 12th on waiting list. Understand lots of other parents may be in this position. We are looking to appeal as we believe it will genuinely be detrimental to his mental health. I can evidence the support he has had from a young life coach this past year. We just want to give his appeal the best chance so wondering if anybody has used an appeal service? If they are worth the money?

Generally, paid for services aren't going to be any better than you doing it. As a panelist, it's pretty obvious when a service has been used, and only very rarely do they add any value over what you could do, especially if they approach it from a legally trained perspective - a panel isn't a court of law.

There are a number of us here happy to help as well.

His feeder school is a small class of 30 of whom all that applied got a place. He didn't hit criteria one as it is a catholic school and we are non catholic.

Ok, so you are worried about his mental health? What is it about your preferred school that would help with that?

Did you check how many non-Catholic school generally get admitted? Is this the same school? Were the other children who got a place Catholic?

@TwylaSands i know some non catholics have been accepted this year and in previous years . I don't have exact numbers not sure how i would access that information?

What is different about the school you want to appeal for to the one he has, why do you think it will damage his MH?

I would strongly recommend against using a paid for appeals service.

Mental health would be a good case if you have evidence from appropriate professionals to support it. Without that, it will be harder, but not necessarily impossible.

To repeat a question @Lougle has already asked, what is it about the preferred school that would help with your son's mental health.

I won an appeal back in '21 using the advice on this site and a book called, iirc, "how to win your appeal".

My appeal was based on mental health.

Tbh at 12 on waiting list it is hopeful you might be offered a place before Sept anyway, but an appeal is a reasonable safeguard.