Should We Appeal for 1st Choice School or Stick with Second-Choice?

[Mumto3who]

Hello,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

My DD is in Year 6 and has been allocated her second-choice school for secondary. We originally wanted her first-choice school because:
✔️ It’s Ofsted Outstanding
✔️ It’s modern with great facilities
✔️ Most of her friends are going there
BUT when we visited, we weren’t bowled over. The school itself looked great, but something in our gut just didn’t feel right.
Our second-choice school wasn’t one we even visited before applying, mainly because:
🚗 It’s a 30-minute drive away
📍 We’re out of catchment, so we didn’t think we’d get in.

However, we went to visit last week and REALLY liked it! It’s also Ofsted Outstanding, has a strong focus on singing and drama (which DD loves), and the girls showing us around were fantastic. The school felt calm, well-managed, and safe.

One of our biggest concerns with this school is the distance.

• The bus takes over an hour and doesn’t seem to align well with school timings.
• An alternative option is a 30-minute bus + 20-minute drive.
• We also have two younger boys in primary, and being a single-sex school, they will need to go elsewhere in the future—adding more logistical challenges.

Our Dilemma:
🔹 Do we stay on the continued interest list for our first-choice school and appeal?

• We’re in catchment, but only just, so our chances are small.
• We do have some grounds for appeal, but it would be stressful, and we know there’s only a 17% success rate.
• It’s closer (20 mins away), and a bus goes from just around the corner, making transport much easier.

Our DD is relaxed about both - but equally I don’t think she feels she has enough information to make the decision herself and is leaving it with us. She would prefer to stay with her friends but is also quite relaxed about starting fresh.

I know we’re in a lucky if not ideal position and both options are good ones. But it’s still a decision we need to make and I’d love to hear from anyone who has had to choose between school preference vs. logistics (but still a good school)—what would you do?

How far away is the school you’ve been offered. Over a certain distance, you should be eligible for transport.

The offered school has a focus on the things your child enjoys.
You were impressed by the atmosphere in the school and the pupils demeanour.
Your child is relaxed about the prospect of going to the school.

Stick with the offer, work out the logistics, see if you qualify for transport.

Stay on wait list for first choice
But the one allocated sounds great

Lots of kids travel for secondary

Thanks for the advise.
It’s 9 miles away. I hadn’t realised this - will look into it!

In our local authority, a bus pass is only offered if the allocated school was not one of your choices.
Yours may have different rules though.

What are your grounds for appeal please?

But even if the LA fund transport, it might well be to pay for the bus pass, so it wouldn't get around the 'length of travel' problem.

If there ate closer schools you didn't apply to or wete lower down your preference list you won't get transport... its for children allocated a distance away, not for parents who choose to send them far away.