Secondary School Place - Continued Interest List

[secondary]

Does anybody know if there is anything I can do between being put on the continued interest list and having the appeal hearing to help get a place?? My daughter didn't get any of her three choices and is apparently 12th on the list for her preferred school. Is it basically now just a case of waiting for the appeal hearing or can I contact the school/education authority in the meantime? And does anyone know roughly how many places are kept free for appeal places?!! We're having many sleepless nights over this! All her friends have got the school of their choice!!

To take your questions in order...

There is nothing you can do now apart from making sure you are wel prepared for the appeal hearing. You can contact the school/LA as often as you like but don't make a nuisance of yourself. If there is any information you need for the appeal, you should ask them. They will give you the answer, even if it damages their case.

NO places are kept free for appeals. That isn't the way the system works. At the appeal, the LA will argue that admitting your daughter will cause prejudice to the school - expect to hear talk of overcrowding in the corridors and so on. You have to show that the prejudice to your daughter's education outweighs the prejudice to the school. If you succeed, the panel will award your daughter a place DESPITE the school not having any places available.

It is worth making sure you know the official capacity of the school and how many pupils they expect to have on the roll in September. If the school will not be full to capacity that will help your case. Find this out in advance. If the school isn't full, ask questions of the LA's representative at the appeal to bring out this fact.

and ask what the maximum number of places filled has been in the past (ie they have had more than they said was feasible and the world didn't end... good luck.