Secondary school place appeal

[sparklesandsparkles]

Hello

So my daughter didn't get her first choice of school for secondary.
She's 10th on the waiting list.

I'm considering appealing. Any support is greatly appreciated.

Shes Asthmatic and has been hospitalised twice for her asthma/breathing issues which we have found is always linked to stress.
The school shes been given is far. Not walking distance. She has a fear of transport after two accidents recently.
This will cause stress which will impact her health.
She'll have to catch the bus (there's nobody to pick up/drop off) and there's a whole load of anxiety linked to catching a bus.
Plus colder seasons shes more likely to have respiratory issues after catching germs etc.

Is this a strong enough argument to gain her a place in our chosen secondary?

Hmm…I’d say not. Sorry OP. I would say that any governing body looking at that would think that she could have treatment/support for her transport fear. Plus many, many students take public transport to school with medical conditions. I think she’s have to have a seriously compromised immune system for your argument to have any weight I’m afraid. The bus would be no more a risk for her with germs than being in a classroom. Is she under a consultant following her hospitalisations? Would they support your appeal?

Sorry OP I don't think that's grounds for appeal. My son is deaf, dyslexic ( and asthmatic) and the smaller school we wanted wouldn't have accepted our appeal on that basis despite letters from audiology/ teacher of the deaf saying he would be better suited to smaller class sizes. However we did end up at that school a month later as waiting lists moved. If you're only 10th you've got a really good chance

If there was a social/ medical category on Admissions criteria and evidence was overlooked or the asthma diagnosis was recent you may have grounds. Lots of kids find the transition and independence of using transport alone difficult at first.

School places can move a lot before September, how far away is it, could they cycle instead, our nearest comp 2.5 miles away so everyone either bikes or takes a long walk if they don't get lifts.

The thing with appeals is that it's a balance between the strength of the school's case vs the strength of your case. So if you have a school with a weak case, then you don't have to have a particularly strong case to win.

So, it's worth giving it your best shot. Would any medical professionals be able to write a supporting letter (not a 'mum says that daughter would be better at school x' letter, but one that gives medical/social/safety reasons why this school is more appropriate)?

Have the hospitalisations been recent? Is her condition getting better or worse as she grows up? Again, some medical evidence would be helpful.

Would she have support of friends at the preferred school who understand her asthma? A panel won't normally be influenced by friendship issues, but maybe if they provide a reassuring presence and know what to do in case of an asthma attack that might be relevant.

Are there any other aspects of the preferred school that you can mention (e.g. curriculum / after school activities) not available at the offered school?

Remember - you won't win an appeal if you don't put one in!

Having school mates on hand to provide medical attention is not something that will cut any ice at an appeal.

You have got six months to get your DD used to using public transport, which is a life skill that everyone (with a few genuine exceptions) should cultivate and will be of use to her even if she gets a place at your first preference school in the meantime. If she has a genuine phobia, and I can see that being involved in two accidents might be somewhat off-putting, then you also have time to get her professional help with this., if you are not already. If it isn't a problem now, it almost certainly will be at some point (how would she cope woth school trips using a coach or even public transport, which some schools do, where appropriate, to keep costs down?) , and why not alleviate her distress sooner rather than later?

(NB @Lemonyfire , the only 'accepting' that the school concerned does vis à vis appeals is in the event of the independent appeal panel hearing the appeal deciding that the parents' case outweighs the school's case not to admit, in which case, the school has to accept that the DC concerned now has a place there and will be joining soon).