question resubmitted best reason for distance appeal

[confusedmom]

Please see my previous editted post.
So sorry should have read the "stickies" better but am a little stressed
Due to social reasons my DD needs this school ie Child care - how would you go about putting together supporting information on this subject.

[Etienne]

Quite understand, confusedmom. It's a very stressful time.

Difficult to advise because you haven't given us much to go on. If it's essentially a logistical problem, the following might help:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 4&start=10
(scroll down to no.17)

[confusedmom]

Dear Etienne many thanks for the input.
DD got 414th place out of 1799 and we are really proud of her.when I spoke to the admission lady,she said that we should mention what our daughter would give to the school,but you advise the opposite.
I do believe you and socially with the eldest dd at grammar school with extended days that I work in the nhs and my husband working abroad often.Its going to be really difficult if we get our offered school.
we do depend on breakast club and grandparents providing after school care but they wouldnt be able to get to pick up the younger child if allocated her offer school.
Is there a"golden" question appeals people ask??
and is there an "equal" magic comment we can make as parents.
There just seems no concrete proof of us showing them that our reasons are real.

[Etienne]

There just seems no concrete proof of us showing them that our reasons are real.

Couldn't someone in a senior position confirm your working hours? Couldn't your husband's employer confirm that he is required to go abroad? I wouldn't normally recommend a letter from relatives, but in this instance couldn't grandparents write something to explain what they can and cannot do?

No 'golden question' or 'magic comment', I'm afraid, but I'd feel more comfortable if your appeal were based on more than logistical reasons. Are there no strong educational reasons why this would be the best school to meet your daughter's needs?

[hermanmunster]

in the NHS you may have rotas available or evidence of having to be at evening meetings etc?

[confusedmom]

It is educuationally a much better school than the allocated one,thats why its oversubcribed ....
It is a language school and the other is science based.

[Etienne]

The fact that it's a better school won't help to win an appeal. The argument should be about how exactly it better meets your daughter's needs. For example, if there is evidence that your daughter has an definite aptitude for languages, then the fact that the school specialises in languages would be very relevant.

[Fluffy66]

Sorry to intrude please feel free to move Etienne.

I note what you say above about specialisms - is it really true that if your childs aptitude for a certain subject is exceptional that it is a good solid point to use in your appeal??

Many thanks, sorry again.

[Etienne]

Sorry to intrude please feel free to move Etienne.

Thanks, Fluffy. I'm happy to answer here as it's relevant to the original poster's case.

is it really true that if your childs aptitude for a certain subject is exceptional that it is a good solid point to use in your appeal??

Yes, if the child has an aptitude or a genuine, proven interest in something the school excels at, or something it offers that is not available elsewhere, it's a valid argument to put forward for an oversubscription appeal.

I'm not saying it would necessarily be enough to win an appeal. Most appeal decisions are, ultimately, a balancing act (do the parental reasons for wanting a place outweigh the prejudice to the school?). The strength of the case put forward by the school to resist further admissions could clearly influence the outcome - as could the strength of other parents' cases.

[Fluffy66]

Thanks for that Etienne.

We do have other points too but my DC is strong in Maths and loves ICT (also Aspergers - you see the connection!) and those are the schools specialism.