Appealing a school admission decision
If it has not been possible to offer your child a place at your preferred school, you have the right to appeal against the decision of the relevant authority, (the Local Authority in the case of Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools and the Governing Body in the case of Voluntary Aided and Academy Schools).
You can only submit an appeal if you have received a formal letter of refusal. If you would like to appeal decisions made by more than one school, you need to submit a separate appeal for each school.
Before submitting your appeal, read the admissions arrangements for the school you would like to appeal to. If the school is a voluntary-aided, academy or free school this information will be on their website.
If the school is a community school or voluntary-controlled, read our school admissions arrangements. This will help you to understand how places are allocated and may help you to build a case for your appeal.
If you are not sure whether an appeal is the right option for you, you can also speak to one of our admissions team to discuss other options that are available to you.
Appeals are heard by an independent panel and parents/carers are given the opportunity to state their case in writing and to attend the hearing in person. Parents/carers can bring along a friend or representative to support them.
The appeal process allows the admission authority to explain why your child was refused a place at your preferred school. You will explain why you believe your child should get a place at that school.
You can learn more about the appeal process and how panels reach decision on the government website on school admissions appeals.
The decision of an appeal is binding on the Local Authority, the school and you.
To make a new appeal during the same academic year for a school that an appeal has already been heard for, is at the discretion of the Local Authority or admission authority, if for instance there has been a significant or material change in the family circumstances such as a house move.