High school admission appeal on distance

You would do better to make the main thrust of your appeal based on his needs ie his dyslexia, whether the allocated school can meet his needs, whether their music department can offer specialist education at the level he requires, whether the emphasis on sport is inappropriate for his needs.
The effect of dyslexia on his social needs given that the group he is familiar with are in the main going to the other school and what extra provision the allocated school will make in order to enable him to develop new friendships.
Try to gather supporting evidence eg any incidences of social difficulties caused by dyslexia.
You can explain the circumstances that have led to him having a temporary address outside the catchment area but this won’t really be strong evidence for an appeal. Might be (however definitely) moving into the area probably won’t even make it to the panel. If the new building has an address quote it specifically in all your correspondence
eg 17 Abbots Lane c/o 23 Black Street. It sounds weird but the computer will bring up the first line of the address!

Shouldn't proof of ownership of the building plot be considered enough evidence of his future address? The system is crazy if it doesn’t allow for this.

I totally sympathise with your situation Rosie59. We won an appeal last year for my DGD to get into the secondary school on her doorstep when she failed to get a place on normal admission . They wanted to send her to a school 2 bus journeys away while children from miles away were awarded places . Have you got a date for the appeal to be in ? I’m happy to share our successful appeal with you although some may not be relevant . You need to prepare a very strong case as they literally tie you in knots and hate to back down.

Thanks so much for all your replies, they are all really helpful and will inform our way forward.
It just seems so unfair that both the house they lived in before and the plot of land they are building on are well within the catchment area.
Added to that he has now been moved one place down the waiting list because evidently families that are late in applying take precedence.

That is absolutely scandalous.Applications after the deadline should never be considered.

I write as someone who knows about self builds rather than education. Forgive me if you have already tried these:
Usually, as long as permission to build has been granted, you can request an address at the site (this is done by the same council)
Have they got anything at the site? You can usually put a post box on the Heras fencing and start receiving mail there (we have used a plastic box with label on!)
Are they applying to have a caravan or other temporary housing at the site? Many self-builders do this. Even if they don't intend to stay there, they can ask permission. This can be the site office, and occasional stop-over, and certainly demonstrate that they are living there.
This can be helped, if before full planning permission, they arrange water and electricity to be supplied to the site (they'll be needing this anyway, but could just bring it forward)

I don't mean to complicate the issue if you are better pursuing the routes suggested above, but thought it might be useful.

Thanks for that Nannarose, all sounds very helpful - will pass it on to my son

TThanks for this thread

It is over 3 years old,

Eglantine21 suggests using his dyslexia and passion for music as a case for appeal. Local Authorities, like everyone else, have an ever decreasing budget available to them. Unless a student has a Statement of Educational Needs, which is a legal document and clearly states the needs that must be provided by that Local Authority, then the appeal isn't likely to succeed. It doesn't sound as if he has been statemented as this comes very high on most school's entry criteria and would have guaranteed him a place. In my neck of the woods school placement applications would be on shaky ground living at a temporary address. I wish you well.

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Good advice Nannarose. It’s a long while ago now, about 25 years, but when my son was due to start secondary school we were in the process of building a house (which had a postal address) within the catchment area but renting outside it. No problem.

Has your grandson’s dyslexia formally assessed? If not I’d get that done. It may result in a personal education plan which should help any appeal
Wishing you well - he should get this place. I don’t want to up the ante but support from your local councillors or MP could rattle cages

well this is all academic, excuse the pun, as OP is 3 years old.
wonder what happened.
i think the child's parents were remiss in removing the family from the catchment area at the qualifying time for school application.
this was a foreseeable problem.

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You are obviously from the US. The service you advertise is for assistance with admissions to US universities. I have reported the post as spam.

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