Appeal help/advice please.

[KirriIrry]

My DD has been offered a place at the school we expected, but I want to appeal to a school I believe will better meet her needs, mostly on in the grounds of size and lesson times.
I (think) I understand the process but would like some advice from anyone with experience of this!

her primary has advised bigging up what she can offer the school, rather than what the school can offer her, and I’m concerned that mentioning ADHD and anxious tendencies might work against her, rather than strengthen our case. She has some measures in place at her current school which would support my case, and the school have said they will support it also.
Essentially I want her to be in a much smaller school with what appears to be a very structured environment, with a clearly laid out approach to learning that looks as though it will suit DD well. I can certainly show that it offers extra-curricular opportunities that DD can both benefit from
and contribute to, but how much weight does that give?
I’m thinking a balanced approach to both sides is the way forward - does that seem reasonable?
I should add that this was a very over-subscribed school this year, and I don’t know anyone locally who got in on distance alone.

many thanks

her primary has advised bigging up what she can offer the school, rather than what the school can offer her

Ignore this. What she can offer the desired school is irrelevant. (I chair Appeals Panels).

What you need to show is that the detriment to her of not attending is greater than the detriment to the school of taking another pupil. This is all about what school offers her that makes it specifically suitable - in this case, the small school, very structured environment and extra-curricular. You will need to evidence her need for this though as much as possible - you just saying "she needs this" won't be enough - ideally a consultants' letter or similar that states her needs and that this school meets them, and evidence of her interest/talent etc in the clubs.

Your primary school has no idea about appeals.

"her primary has advised bigging up what she can offer the school, rather than what the school can offer her, and I’m concerned that mentioning ADHD and anxious tendencies might work against her, rather than strengthen our case."

The appeals panel are not allowed to consider whether a school would benefit from a child's presence in the school. The consideration is what benefit the child would have from joining the school, and what detriment they would face if they were not awarded the place.

An appeal is not a selection panel; the panel can’t admit children on the basis that they might be an asset to the school.

To win an appeal, you will need to satisfy the appeal panel that the prejudice (detriment) to your child if they don’t get a place outweighs any prejudice to the school in having to cater for an extra pupil.

ADHD and anxiety are unfortunately not rare conditions. If you want to mention them at the appeal, the panel will expect to see a statement from your child’s health care team that, in their professional opinion, the preferred school can provide better support and they will be disadvantaged if they don’t get a place. Without that, the panel is likely to conclude that all schools can support children with those needs.

"her primary has advised bigging up what she can offer the school, rather than what the school can offer her,"

Is your primary school private, or was this advice given by someone who used to work (or has children in) the private sector? Based on my experience, it might account for their naivety about state school appeals.

Thank you everyone!
I’m glad I posted - what I was told didn’t tally with what I understand about the process, so I felt compelled to check.
I will add in a bit about the extra-curricular (to keep them sweet - I do need them to support my appeal, after all!) but focus on the other aspects.
The primary have been wonderful generally, so I won’t hold this against them!