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School admissions appeals
If I do not get a place at the school I want, can I
appeal?
If you do not get the school you want, you can appeal for a
place.
Your right to appeal
By law,
if we refuse your child a place at the school or schools you
prefer, you can appeal against the decision, except where the child
has been permanently excluded from two or more schools.
Please note that you can normally only appeal for the same
school once in each academic year.
Does this process apply to children who are statemented?
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
you cannot use this appeal process.
You must appeal to the special needs tribunal. Please contact
the Special Education Needs Service.
Appeals process
Appeals are heard by an independent appeal panel of three to
five members of the public.
The panellists appointed to decide these appeals are volunteer
members of the public, some of whom may have experience in
education.
Infant classes
By law the maximum number for infant classes is 30.
Admission applications can be refused if all of the schools'
infants classes have reached the legal limit.
The panel is only allowed to look at whether:
- the child would have been offered a place if the admissions
arrangements had been properly implemented
- a place would have been offered if the arrangements had not
been contrary to criteria set out in the School Admissions
Code
- the decision to refuse admission was not one which a reasonable
admissions team would have made in the circumstances of the
case.
When will my appeal be heard?
The admissions team will write to you at least 10
working school days before the hearing to confirm the
date.
Reception 2012
18 April 2012 – Offer letters will be sent out to parents/
carers
2 May 2012 – Deadline for parents/carers to accept the offer of
a place. If you do not accept the place, the offer will be
removed.
1 June 2012 – Deadline for receipt of completed appeal form and
to be considered in first round of school appeals. Earlier
submission will assist in scheduling cases and ensure that your
appeal is heard within the 40 day school period.
Transfer to secondary school 2012
1 March 2012 – Offer letters sent out to parents/carers.
16 March 2012 – Deadline for parents/carers to accept the offer
of a place.
21 March 2012 – Appeal forms and guidance notes start being sent
to parents/carers.
16 April 2012 – Deadline for receipt of
completed appeal form and any additional documentation, to be
considered in first round of school appeals for the following
schools:
- Beal High School
- Caterham High School
- Loxford School of Science & Technology
- Valentines High School
- Wanstead High School
- Woodbridge High School
27 April 2012 – Deadline
for receipt of completed appeal form and any additional
documentation, to be considered in first round of school appeals
for the following schools:
- Ilford County High School
- Oaks Park High School
- Seven Kings High School
- Woodford County High School
Within the above deadlines, your appeal will be heard within 40
school days of your appeal form being received.
You will receive a letter advising you of the date and time of
your appeal at least 10 school days before the appeal hearing
unless you have agreed to waive the 10 school days’ notice on your
appeal form; you will also receive a copy of your case history
together with your appeal form and the authority’s case.
With regard to appeals to be considered in the second and
subsequent rounds, your appeal will be heard within 30 school days
of your appeal form being received.
If you wish to provide any additional documents, information
and/or evidence to the panel to support your case please do so at
least three working days before your appeal if possible. Should you
submit additional information, which the panel thinks may be
significant, too close to the hearing date or on the day, the panel
may need to defer your case to enable them and the Children’s
Services representative time to study the papers. This is important
because they will want to come to a fair decision based on a full
understanding of all the information.
Sixth form admissions
Hearings will be held within 40 days of the appeal being
lodged.
In-year admissions
Hearings will be held within 30 school days of the
appeal being lodged for applications made outside the timetabled
admissions process.
What happens at the hearing?
There are three steps to the appeal hearing:
- the admissions representative will explain to the appeals
panel why your application has been turned down
- if the panel decides that there was a good reason for
turning down your application, you will still have a chance to
give your reasons for appealing against the
decision and produce evidence
- your child will be awarded a place at the school if the panel
finds your case to be the stronger. If not, the decision not to
offer your child a place will be upheld.
The appeals decision
The panel will let you and the admissions team know of their
decision by post within seven days.
The panel's decision is binding on both sides and can be only
overturned by the courts.
Complaining about the appeals process
If you are unhappy about the way the appeals process was carried
out, please contact The Local Government Ombudsman.
How do I appeal?
Download the relevant appeal forms and guidance notes below or
alternatively contact the Admissions
Team.
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