Hi, My DD missed her choice of first preference that is SHS by few ranks, but has been allocated a place in Ribston Hall. However, she is on the WL for SHS. I've thought of appealing as she is very keen on getting in to SHS. She is normally good at studies, but the pressure of scoring higher/equal as her twin brother (he got into STR which is his first choice and also qualified for all other boy's schools and co-ed schools) and some of the personal family problems affected her to some extent. Could you suggest if I need to submit evidence such as letters from the for her extra-curricular activities (like music, dance, keyboard, etc.) please? I live near Bristol and my DS will be travelling by school bus from Bristol and will have to look for trains or make other arrangements for my daughter's travel to school (to Ribston) if she doesn't get into SHS. We will be relieved as there is a bus facility from the place we live (Thornbury) to SHS. Otherwise, as mother of twins and both going to different schools, me travelling to work that is 40 miles away from my place and my husband keeps travelling to other places in UK on his work and stays with us only during weekends. So, mentioning all these reasons help during appealing and do I need to provide evidence for all of these kind of things? Thanks for taking time to read and your response is much appreciated. Thank you very much.

For me, the first thing is travelling and then the academic statistics of the school. I know travelling to and from Gloucester/Stroud itself is a trouble, but not brave enough to send my DD by train to Gloucester and then to walk from train station to school as she is too sensitive and will be in her own world (she loves to sing and to write poems) even while walking. Also, she is reserved and initially she struggles to mingle with other kids. One of her school friends got in SHS and if she has some one in school whom she knows she feels comfortable. Not sure if these points can be highlighted and if all these points make a good reason.

Motheroftwo, have you had a look at the appeals section of this forum? I have no personal experience but from what I have read on there, you need to concentrate on why your DD specifically needs to go to SHS, and on academic evidence to show she should have scored higher than she did. I think things like feeling under pressure from competing with a twin are worth mentioning but you can't base your appeal on it.

The impression I get is that the panel are not interested in extra curricular activities and are not allowed to consider letters from dance teachers etc. I think the only exception might be if you could prove that SHS had a very strong music department (for example) and that your daughter was already playing an instrument at such a high level that SHS was the only school that could meet her needs.

The school does not have a strong dance department, in fact I think Ribston's is better so don't mention that!

Depending on how much she missed out by, maybe she will get a place from the waiting list anyway?

Pixiequeen

For me, the first thing is travelling and then the academic statistics of the school. I know travelling to and from Gloucester/Stroud itself is a trouble, but not brave enough to send my DD by train to Gloucester and then to walk from train station to school as she is too sensitive and will be in her own world (she loves to sing and to write poems) even while walking. Also, she is reserved and initially she struggles to mingle with other kids. One of her school friends got in SHS and if she has some one in school whom she knows she feels comfortable. Not sure if these points can be highlighted and if all these points make a good reason.