Application nightmare

[Howcananyone]

I’ve fucked up. Massively. I’m here as I don’t have anyone else to talk to and I’m running out of ideas fast.
I realised in April that I had not applied for a secondary school place for my daughter. The reason why I hadn’t was I had thought it was automatic. We live in a tiny village and have a small village school, it’s a partnership school to the secondary school and my son is already attending there. The primary school in question did not this time send out any emails or instructions (they did when my son applied) so I’d stupidly assumed because of those factors it was automatic. Currently my daughter attends the partnership secondary school at least twice a term for various sports events and partnership days. The head teacher comes and talks to the older kids and we get emails and letters from them.
i started to think in April it was odd I hadn’t had any official emails and then the horror started to unfold.
I spoke to the secondary school immediately and with their help, made a manual application. The school said whilst they initially were full, they knew of spaces being given up etc etc and my daughter would be right at the top of the lists.
I found out today the application has been refused. They are already over subscribed.
I've been told I can appeal, which I will, and I have the support of CAMHs (separate issue with my son but they support fully my daughters application and it’s all linked ).
I’m not even sure I’m asking anything here. I am beyond devastated, I just wanted to vent, or just even write it all down

I posted on your other thread. Appeal. Don't focus on your transport arrangements. Try to get CAMHS to write a letter that states that only this school will meet your child's needs.

It is still possible your daughter will get a place despite being refused at this stage. She may well be at the top of the waiting list, so she will get a place if anyone drops out. There are normally a few who drop out before the start of term.

Your mistake doesn't give you a case for appeal, but you may be able to build a successful appeal around things your daughter will miss out on if she is not admitted. You haven't said enough about your daughter to say for sure, but the involvement with CAMHS may help.

Added to this, we already have existing car pools set up between families in the village (families work hours are already set around this) and my daughter was allowed to complete her friend list for the secondary school as it was presumed it was okay. Every single child in her small year group will be going to that school

None of that will hold weight without the CAMHS support. Every year hundreds of children are expected to go to schools where they know nobody, and even if they go to school with children they know, the schools mix them throughout form classes.

Transport has no bearing on your case.

Look at your allocated school and compare what it offers to your preferred school. Make a case that she needs your preferred school because of what it offers. Add the CAMHS support to that.

Thanks. The CAMHs aspect is my son (at the secondary school) is currently undergoing an eating disorder diagnosis with CAMHs - wevw already met them and it’s well underway. This is been in conjunction with some huge help from the school, so we all know each other well. Part of the diagnosis is social issues, it was noted that when his sister started school, this will give some comfort

I'm sorry to hear about your DS. You really need CAMHS to say that your DD needs to attend the school to aid your DS's recovery. I think it's unlikely that they will want to commit that to writing though.

Thank you. 🙏
I had a catch up meeting with them today and they said they will provide a ‘support’ statement for our application, on the basis of the possible negative implications of them not being at the same school. They haven’t sent it over yet so I don’t know what it looks like or says.

I think right now, I’ve never been closer than just grabbing my kids and their passports and just jumping on a plane to ……. Anywhere but here right now.
It’s all just a struggle 24/7.

Glad you are getting some expert help.

So for your appeal

1. I was so overwhelmed with son's issues I got myself really confused and thought it would be automatic entry. <Shouldn't carry any weight>
2. My son, already at school, will benefit from DD being there, and DD will be upset/worried at not being there to support her brother. <CAMHS letter, but again if mainly about DS not DD may not carry much weight>
3. These are the reasons the school is particularly good for my daughter. To be identified

There's a good chance she'll be high up the waiting list anyway isn't there? In which case you may well get a place by September or soon into y7.

Thanks- your reply is very helpful, some additional focus for me to add to my appeal.
yes I’ve been told cat 4 (which I believe is the highest?) so there is that, they start doing various inductions days and stuff like that end of next month (primary school start talking them over for half days etc as it’s a feeder school they share some school mini buses) so focusing on trying to get via the appeal first. Thank you- I’m adjusting my appeal
notes now to focus on your points