Does my case have a fair chance at appeal? Opinions? Not 11+

[Helen82]

Is there anything from the last Ofsted for the school you want that would indicate the effectiveness of the SEN support? What about their 'local offer' on the website; anything worth quoting ...?

Yes there some worthy quotes from the ofsted report that says SEN are well supported and in the allocated school that SEN are not well supported. I will definitely include this info

[Etienne]

Except that some schools applied for the funding to build up weak departments - so a specialism didn't indicate a strength ...

That may well be true, and the school could always scotch Helen's argument by saying "It's no longer a specialism, and to be honest with you it was always a very weak department!"

However, if the school says that business studies is one of its strengths, or if its prospectus still mentions 'specialisms' (which some do!!!), or if its website appears to 'promote' its business studies department, an appeal panel isn't going to disagree!

[Helen82]

It's definitely all good food for thought!!

[Etienne]

Just one further point - keep in mind that this not an appeal against the allocated school, or you will get the 'balance' wrong.
Understandably there have to be some references to it, but keep them to a minimum.

• • At an oversubscription appeal, it’s usually not a good idea to:
    ........... e) make negative points about the school allocated (rather than positive reasons for the school being appealed for)

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Helen82]

Absolutely Etienne! The fact that the allocated school is failin, especially with SEN students, will be hard to keep brief but I understand the need to be positive about the prefered and school and prove why it's so suitable.

If we do manage to win I then have to consider whether to move my youngest to a feeder school as she will have no SEN argument. She will be in year 5 in September so at leaders it's not SATs year. Otherwise I could end up with one at a great school and one at a not so great. There is always the "sibling" criteria but it's not a guarantee.

One step at a time I guess!