Secondary School Appeals

[Mia2026]

Going out our mind for Appeals for an oversubscribed school.

Any help and guidance on appealing for a school on grounds of multi faith allocated by random computer

Daughter who has undiagnosed Anxiety - what evidence is accepted? School are aware and have supported over the years. Possible neurodiversity

Community- safeguarding issues

Would moving to the area before the appeal help

Moving to the area won't really help with the appeal as such but it will help with her position on the waiting list if the school has distance criteria. You have put her on the waiting list yes? And for any other schools you consider suitable?

Undiagnosed anxiety is not going to help you much but if its serious then getting a diagnosis will be helpful whichever school she goes to. Apart from which, the general expectation is that most schools can support most conditions (unless you have an EHCP that names a particular school).

What is it about this particular school that makes it right for her? That's what you need to base your arguments on.

As with any appeal at secondary level, you would need to show that the prejudice (ie detriment) to your child in not being admitted outweighs the prejudice to the school and the pupils already in it in having to cater for an extra pupil.

Moving closer to the school will make no difference to the appeal, although it will sometimes put you higher on the waiting list (although not if, as I think you’re saying here, places are awarded by random allocation).

For any appeal, you will need documentary evidence to support your arguments.

What do you mean by “on grounds of multi faith”? If you are arguing that the preferred school is better able to support your child’s faith or cultural needs, you should provide evidence of that, but the appeal panel may take the view that this is the parent’s preference rather than the child’s need.

Likewise, provide evidence of the safeguarding risk (is this a situation where there has been police involvement?) and how getting a place at the preferred school will help.

Saying your child has undiagnosed anxiety is unlikely to add weight to your appeal, because many children feel anxious about starting secondary school and any secondary school should be able to help with that. The appeal panel will be looking for evidence from (say) your GP or other health care professionals, setting out why, in their professional opinion, your child needs a place at the preferred school and will be disadvantaged if not admitted.

By Mutli faith, places were allocated on basis of multi faith but it was computer generated. It was the reason we applied for the school and yes have arguments as to how this will help her with a school who respects religion etc.

In process of getting medical evidence and understand the difficult in proving why that school l is only school that can support her. Again any real time examples would be appreciated.

Was after advice as to what kind of support other than general pastoral care and SEN support would help the appeal be stronger or ground that those on panels know have won.

The safeguarding was having known relationships with parents whom we know rather than a school with strangers. The sense of community and also how transition to secondary school is a big change but for a child who has anxiety could worsen her symptoms by going to a school where she knows no one. We rely on this community for before and after care support.

The move was to get higher on thew waiting list but I doubt given where she is this will help as she isn't next in queue.

any support on what the GP or medical professional can say to win make the appeal stronger?

Each appeal turns on its own facts and the appeal panel’s judgement of whether the parent’s case for admitting the child is stronger than the school’s case for not exceeding its published admission number. Nobody can give you a script for what to say, because everything depends on your child’s circumstances.

Generally, though, the appeal panel will be looking for evidence from professionals who know your child, saying that in their professional opinion your child needs a place at this school and will be disadvantaged if they don’t get one.

Nothing you have mentioned so far sounds likely to win an appeal but, as I said, much depends on the strength of the supporting evidence you provide and the strength of the school’s case for not admitting.

Be sure to identify everything about this school which would benefit your child.

No appeal is going to take into account you know other parents!

Are you able to help with cases that have won as to what specially the medical evidence says. I don't want to waste the time if no grounds of appeal.

I obviously looked at bespoke support school we want can offer in comparison with allocated school.

So what reason are likely to carry more weight as if this doesn't fit our child then do not see the point in wasting time. as most schools offer SEN ( if proved) support.

Also wanted to add that the school we want offers further maths and this is our Childs strong point academically and the allocated school doesn't offer this.

Would this be considered a strong point?

Are you able to help with cases that have won as to what specially the medical evidence says. I don't want to waste the time if no grounds of appeal.

The thing is as PP say, what wins one appeal will not necessarily win the next as there are so many variables – from the strength of the school's case inc things like whether it has gone over PAN before/in other years, to the strength of yours to the number of other appeals. XX medical ground may win in one case and not in another.

I think the FM is a good point (is this at KS4 level? agree it's not always offered) but what kind of evidence do you have of interest – has your DD excelled in maths challenges at primary for example?

I agree btw the factor of you knowing the other parents will not be taken into account – apart from anything, that doesn't actually benefit your DD.

A doctor’s letter saying only this school will do in their medical opinion (ie not "the mother says") would be strong evidence but I doubt you’ll be able to get that with no diagnosis. Others may know better.

Were places allocated by lottery? am I reading that correctly? what is the significance of “on the basis of multi faith”? Do you mean it’s not a faith school and that’s what you want? or it is and that is important to you?

Thanks

yes my daughter has excelled in maths and this is an area of interest.

yes lottery allocation no we want it as faith school and aligns with our faith which the allocated school isn’t.

obv i’m disappointed but am looking at this from what is best for my daughter

no medical evidence except 2024 but school have been supporting and so have a letter from school to this effect

Ideally can you evidence that? Like the Maths challenge or whatever they do in primary? Anything extra curricular she has done?

What actual evidence can you provide for any of the things you have mentioned?
Moving to secondary is a huge transition for all children and many of them will be anxious.
Did you have to provide evidence of your faith?? Did you do so?
Knowing other parents at the school makes zero difference.

Yes have all evidence and a case for each point.

its not knowing parents at the school its the security that comes within the community the psychological and emotional impact due to the anxiety not just transitional anxiety

yes could only get in if had evidence of multi faith but in end it was down to algorithms of a computer

Yes I can!

its the security that comes within the community the psychological and emotional impact due to the anxiety not just transitional anxiety

Im sorry @Mia2026 and I know you want the best for your DD but I cannot see an appeal being allowed on those grounds. If you don’t have a medical diagnosis then I am not sure what evidence you have. Anyone could say "My DC needs to go to this school bc otherwise they will be really anxious." All schools are considered able to support pastorally.

And in terms of religion – any school will (or should!) respect the students' religious views. I don’t personally think there is any need for your place of education to reinforce your religious views. Any more than it should, say, reinforce your political views. The panel may well take the view that your DD can continue to practise her religion outside school.

How is the WL held? I mean how is the order decided, if places are allocated not on distance but by lottery? Because usually the WL goes on the admissions criteria – so (usually) the nearer you are to the school, the higher up the WL. But if yours is by lottery then moving nearer the school is not going to help that either.

Is that not more reflective of your views than your dd’s though?

If you have safeguarding reasons why this school is the safest for her, then that will be listened to.

I do have some evidence and in process of getting some more as this decision has highlighted her anxiety and possible autism which she may be on spectrum for.

thanks for your input is it good to get an unemotional stance

But this school in question is a multi faith school. I’m not saying mainstream can’t support at all. Just saying why the ethos of the school is in line with our beliefs too.

Sounds very unlikely you'd win on appeal unless the school are happy to go over numbers

How many preferences did you have?
Did you use them all?
Did you name your nearest school(s) and other schools to which you would have likely received an offer last year?
On your preferred school, looking at the oversubscription criteria, where would she come - usual order : Children with EHC plans who are allocated, then looked after children / previously looked after children (e.g. living in children’s homes, fostered, adopted), then the other criteria which may include a percentage allocated by aptitude, siblings on roll, faith, distance / catchment, children of staff, Pupil Premium etc.
On the SEND aspect, who has suggested your child may have ASD and has she been referred for an assessment?
You don’t appear to be using the word safeguarding correctly. Schools are communities and lots of children move up to secondary with few or no children from their primary schools.

What do you mean by ‘multi faith’? Your household has more than one faith? The school is not a catholic or Islamic school?? So represents many different faiths? How are you evidencing your belief in ‘multi faith’?

@Mia2026 think of the prejudice argument as having a set of weighing scales. On one side, any arguments by the school will be placed. On the other, arguments by the parents. Each factor that is raised will have different weights, then the opposing side can try to chip away at the weight each argument is given.

For example, a school is always likely to say that taking another child will increase the risk of accidents in the corridors due to overcrowding. The parents or the panel might say 'How many accidents have been recorded in corridors in the last 5 years?' 'None.' The panel is likely not to give that argument much weight.

So for each of your points, you need to convince the panel that a) it is an argument that goes in favour of needing a place at that school specifically and b) that there will be a disadvantage to your child if they don't get a place for that reason and, crucially c) that the disadvantage will be so great that it overcomes the arguments of the school against taking another pupil.

So, anxiety. "Lucy gets anxious and doesn't like change" isn't going to get anyone anywhere because change is inherent to becoming secondary school age. However "Lucy is diagnosed with generalised anxiety and school A has several areas for children who need a quieter environment to go to at lunch time. The has a structured transition programme for children with anxiety, involving gradual integration to the social areas at lunch time. Lucy has experienced Emotionally Based School Avoidance in the past and this was resolved after her primary school put a social programme in during lunch times to support her. Her allocated school has no pastoral support at lunch time and all students congregate in the hall or outside in the playground" is a much stronger argument because it demonstrates that Lucy has required the support that School A offers in the past, and that school A offers something over and above school B.

So, you need to compare your allocated school and what it offers to the school you want. Then you need to find concrete examples of why your preferred school is more suitable for your child. It isn't about what you prefer. It is about what your child needs.