Chances of school waiting list movement and appeal success after moving to Leyland

[Chemite12]

We are due to move to Leyland in late June, although we have not yet exchanged contracts. I have placed both of my sons (currently in Year 8 and Year 6) on the waiting lists for three schools: Hutton Grammar School, Bishop Rawstorne, and All Hallows.

My older son, who is in Year 8, is applying as an in‑year transfer, while my younger son, currently in Year 6, is applying for Year 7 entry in September.

My year 6 son current waiting list positions are:

• Hutton Grammar: Year 6 son is number 3
• Bishop Rawstorne: Year 6 son is number 10
• All Hallows: Year 6 son is number 20

Hutton Grammar has already offered my Year 8 son a place, to start as soon as we move. Because of this, I am hopeful that my Year 6 son will also be offered a place at Hutton, so both boys can attend the same school.

The council has advised me to provide proof of our new address once we have moved, as this will improve my Year 6 son’s position on the waiting lists.

Bishop Rawstorne advised to send our exchange of contracts as soon as we have it.

All Hallows has invited me to an appeal hearing for my Year 6 son. I would like advice on how realistic our chances are, given that he is currently number 20 on their waiting list, and how likely an appeal is to succeed considering we are relocating from Manchester to Leyland. Thanks.

WL position has no bearing on an appeal so don't worry about that.

What you need for an appeal is strong reasons for your child to attend the school which override the school's need to stay within its designated number. What sort of thing would apply? Possibilities might include your DC has learned XX MFL at primary school and has relatives in the country and the MFL is offered at the appeal school; they play oboe to XX level and the appealed school has an orchestra and a strong music GCSE offering – that kind of thing.

I don't know the schools at all, but I see that Hutton is not a selective school despite its name, so at number 3 on the WL an offer of a place is perhaps quite likely (my thought was if it was a selective school people are less likely to decline places before September, as they are seen as desirable). All the best with the move.

I know the area. All Hallows is a very popular Catholic school. Does your son have a faith? If so, then it is worth checking the admission arrangements for what proof is needed and supplying it to the school if you can as this will improve your place on the waiting list. The wish for a faith education can also form part of your case at appeal.

Bishop Rawsthorne is a CoE school and also has a faith bases criteria for some of their places. As for All Hallows, check their admission arrangements if you think you may qualify. The evidence needed is different for the two schools.

I submitted the completed supplementary gorms for all the three schools. I hope they will consider this.

Thank you for the advice.

Have you looked at balshaw’s and st. Michael’s in Chorley?

He is on number 36 on Balshaw’s waiting list 😭😭. I will check St Michael’s. Thank you.