Children must attend a school they don''t want to..

Just a quick one. Girlfriend and her ex husband have a 50:50 care arrangement for two children (nearly 11 and 9 and 1/2). Mother wants them to attend a better school but girlfriend''s ex has blocked by securing a specific issue order - and appeal has failed.

NB for devil''s advocates, girlfriend''s choice of school is objectively better for them on every level - encourages high sachievers, outstanding ofsted, high Oxbridge % etc - ex-H''s choice of school is poor Ofsted and rates 5th lowest in the county and sends about 5 out of 100 to university every year (but, you''ve guessed it, more convenient for him).

The children are devastated - they desperately want to change school. The elder made this point calmly and maturely to CAFCASS officer, who reported this and described her as reasoned and mature beyond her age etc, but then said she is still only ten and so doesn''t know what she is talking about; the younger one didn''t really engage with her (he was worried by what his Dad had been telling him) and was described as immature.

What now? Are there any further remdies? Can the children launch an action themselves?

Additioanl context, the ex-H is a bully and is taking this decision as grounds (he says) to launch a "full custody" application.