Can anyone help with appeal please?

So your daughter moved house knowing that the new school was oversubscribed?

If that IS the case (sorry if I've grabbed the wrong end of the stick btw) then the new LEA would probably say "tough luck, ddgillybob, it might have been a good idea to check out places before committing to a house move".

Head over to Mumsnet-lots of experience over there.

Good luck. . Sounds as though you're doing loads to help.

It wasn't exactly like that gettingonabit. I don't want to put all the details on a public forum but they (DS and DDiL) had very little choice about moving.

Also there are 3 primary schools within a 5-10-15 minute walk from their new house (two of which had places in December 2015 when they committed to move and one who had places in March this year when they physically moved). Now none have places (or so we are lead to believe as the figures from one school have changed so many times I have almost lost count).

The problem is f77ms is that they have taken so long (8 months from house move and original application) that there were places but now there are none. We would be happy if LEA would provide transport which they are extremely reluctant --to pay for--do.

Secondary school within minutes walk from house but consistently full from feeder schools, then siblings. I spoke to the admissions secretary on Friday who said DGD had very little chance of getting in unless she got into a feeder (which is where we are at the moment with the appeals).

The law states that the authority MUST provide transport to the nearest school with places, provided it is over two miles away (for primary).

If there is any primary school within the catchment area of the secondary school, you really should try to get a place, even if the school isn't your preferred choice.

My fear is that you don't have a strong case. I know you don't feel that you've been treated fairly, but you can only win the appeal if you can prove that the school is the ONLY one which can provide the education your grandchild needs. The school is already up to its limit, so it has the upper hand in law. The appeal panel will not take any notice of the transport difficulties.

Fingers crossed for you, but, if I were in your shoes, I'd be considering an alternative secondary school and finding out how this would affect the place on the waiting list for the preferred school.

Just trying to get my head around the timescales...so your dd was told last April there were places, having just moved to the new area in March?

None of my business I know but why was there such a long gap between moving and applying for the places?

I really feel for you actually-for 3 primaries to be full when you're living in catchment (presumably you are, being so close) is tough.

I think it's worth appealing, though. I'm assuming that the places are all currently taken, but that may change, and at least you're in a position to take up the places.

However it may prove even more complicated if the dgcs end up in different schools.

Fingers crossed. .