Secondary School appeal panel advice

[MunchkinBlue]

I have appealed my daughters (DD) first choice of secondary school (a faith school, not in our catchment)as we were offered our 4th choice which is over 7 miles away.
DD currently attends a primary along with her 2 brothers our first choice of secondary school is in the same street as the primary.
I am a single parent to 4 children 2 of who are autistic. I have sole responsibility for the school runs to and from school.
My 2 autistic sons are prone to extreme meltdown episodes where they can become violent, DD is a member of the 'Young carers' and she assists me with the boys when I am driving if they are having a meltdown.
For me it is essential that DD school is as close as possible to her brothers school to enable me to get all children to school on time and safely.
The 4th choice schools start and end times are exactly the same time as the Primary school and there is no way I can be in 2 places at once.
There is not a direct bus route from where I live to the new school.
It makes much more logistical sense that DD school is next to her brothers school so that I am able to drive all children to school at the same time.
My life as a single parent to 4 children including 2 with additional needs is extremely stressful and we as a family have a lot to deal with on a daily basis, and trying to work out logistics is an extra pressure and strain.
The preferred school is an excellent school and she fell in love with it at the open day.
Obviously I have put all the above detail in my appeal letter and now we have our appeal panel scheduled and wanted some advice if there is anything you think I can add at the meeting to help our case.
Many thanks for your help.

I do appreciate all you said about the logic of your daughter attending the school next to that of her brothers but am saddened that you need her in the car in case of meltdowns. I spent my primary school years doing just that, having a brother with additional needs, but going to a school a distance from his gave me space.

I'm sorry, I know how much easier it would be for you if your daughter was near her brothers, but logistics isn't a reason to admit on appeal, AFAIK.

Are there any other reasons for wanting this school? Pastoral, maybe? Anything you do with supporting her as a young carer? Any out of school activities that would play to her (prooven) interests or mental health that the offered school doesn't have?

If the school is over seven miles away, won’t your daughter be entitled to transport? I think a journey of over five miles qualifies.

As @SpringOfContentment says, does the school you want have any activities or subjects that she is particularly interested in or talented at, that the offered school doesn’t have?

Logistics isn’t usually a reason for admitting, because secondary aged children are deemed to be able to travel independently. Whether being part of a Young Carers group will make a difference or not, I don’t know.

It is actually a journey of over 3 miles by the shortest safe walking route that qualifies for free transport, provided the parents named their nearest schools as higher choices than the one allocated.

@MunchkinBlue - I'm afraid it isn't just about adding to your case. You need a different case. Your case is essentially based on the convenience to you of your daughter being at a school close to the primary school attended by her brothers. Unless the school's case to refuse entry is so weak that any appeal will succeed, that is not a winning case. To have a realistic chance of winning, you need to show that your daughter will be disadvantaged if she is not admitted to the appeal school. To do this, you need to identify things that the appeal school offers that are missing from the allocated school and that are particularly relevant to your daughter.

Does the school prioritise children with “exceptional social need” for that school? If so, are you able to get a professional working with the family (eg social worker or health professional or someone from Young Carers) to write a letter outlining how your daughter assists with school runs and the impact if she can’t attend this school? This could be a potential valid route of appeal, much stronger than just logistics.

Thanks for your replies, I do have a letter of support from my son’s social worker to support the case, that has already been submitted. I did apply for transport but we don’t qualify as I did not request our catchment school. I will add in more relevant information regarding the school and what it can offer her in that the other school can’t, Any other advice appreciated thank you

Are you on the waiting list for your catchment school? And any others that are preferable to the one offered? It would be a good idea to do this, even with doing the appeal.

Might her carers status be recognised as a Social or Medical need, if there is a category. Otherwise I fear your logistics won't count. If anything it seems more for your benefit than hers, that she is available to assist you. Secondary school travel is accepted as being independent, even a non direct bus journey. Will LA pay for transport?

I would urge you wholeheartedly to digest @prh47bridge 's post. It is very unlikely that you will win an appeal on the basis of needing your DD to provide care, or that she needs you to transport her. Unfortunately, you didn't place her nearest school on your CAF which excludes you from transport, but that is the rule.

You need to focus on why your DD will benefit from the school you prefer, not why it is better for you if she's there.

I won our appeal, on social and pastoral grounds. Had letter of support from our social worker and the current school. Thanks for all advice

Well done! I hope things get easier for you OP, it sounds tough x