Appeals for schools outside catchment

[vinit_tyagi]

DS scored 102 in Slough test. We are thinking of filling in Upton court school slough in the CAF and going for appeal in March. The problem is that we live in Watford and not in the catchment of slough schools. Will it go against us in appeal? Although we can move to Slough if he is offered a place there.
His watford score is also low. Very little hope in watford as well.

His Bucks score is 109. Should we apply in Bucks rather than slough and go for appeal there. Very confused!!!

Thanks,

[hermanmunster]

Hi Vinit

You can apply to any of these schools and then go for appeals in March where you will have to demonstrate academic ability - have you had a chat to the headteacher about whether you can get that information?

You may have to consider that you will not get any of the schools through appeal and hence could probably do with spending the time before 31st looking at the other options locally to ensure you are happy with these

[scary mum]

You could apply for all of them & when rejected appeal to them. Do you have good academic evidence? I would gently suggest that if he has failed to meet the qualifying mark for any if them maybe a grammar school isn't the right place for him? What about your other local schools? Remember to put at least one school that you are confident of being offered. Also remember that Bucks schools are offered on distance after qualifying/appealing.
Cross posts with Herman

[vinit_tyagi]

Thanks for the responses guys.
We have only four choices to make in CAF. We are targeting one grammar school on the basis of distance criteria, Bushey meads on the basis of technology test score which is very close to the cut offs of last 3 years and one comprehensive school (It's a catholic school so this one is also not guaranteed). Struggling to find the fourth choice as we don't have any other good comprehensive school near us.

A new headteacher joined in his primary school so not sure if she will support us.

Thanks

[ToadMum]

Thanks for the responses guys.
We have only four choices to make in CAF. We are targeting one grammar school on the basis of distance criteria, Bushey meads on the basis of technology test score which is very close to the cut offs of last 3 years and one comprehensive school (It's a catholic school so this one is also not guaranteed). Struggling to find the fourth choice as we don't have any other good comprehensive school near us.

A new headteacher joined in his primary school so not sure if she will support us.

Thanks

Please be very careful that you don't list a fourth school that is likely to rank your application too low against its criteria for your DS to be offered a place on March 1st. I appreciate how difficult it is when you are not keen on the schools in the immediate vicinity, but unless you name one school where you can be sure of a place, going on what you have said about your first three preferences, you run a very real risk of being allocated a place at the only school with places available - which, in an area with pressure on school places, is likely to be even more undesirable than your 'safe but not ideal bet' option. Unless you are also applying to independent schools or would rather home educate?