The appeal hearing
You will be contacted ten days before the appeal date to outline the process and the options available. Paperwork will be sent to you around five working days before the hearing.
The panel
The appeals panel will be made up of three members who fall into these categories:
- At least one lay member who has no personal experience of management in schools
- At least one member who has personal experience in education
A representative from the council (for all community schools appeals) or the school’s governing body/Academy trust (for all church aided and academy schools appeals) will also be there to state their reasons for refusal.
Infant class size appeals
If your preference for a primary school is refused because the class has reached its statutory limit, you will be given the right of appeal.
This can only be upheld if an appeal panel is satisfied:
- the decision was not one which a reasonable admission authority would make in the circumstances of the case; or
- the child would have been offered a place if the admission arrangements had been properly implemented.
.GOV.UK has more information on infant class size appeals.
The panel’s decision
The panel members will make their decision in private and you and the school will be told of their decision by letter within five school days. For ‘batch’ appeals in relation to the normal round of admission, it will be five school days after the final appeal for the school is heard.
The decision of the panel is final and binding between the council, the school and yourself.
Successful appeal
If your appeal is successful your child will be awarded a place at the school and you will be asked to contact them to arrange a start date.
Unsuccessful appeal
If your appeal is unsuccessful, no further appeal can be made for the same school in the same year group, unless there has been a material change of your or the school's circumstances.
If you think your case has been dealt with unfairly or unlawfully, you have the right to contact the Local Government Ombudsman or Education Skills and Funding Agency. The details will be included with your decision letter.
We will be able to give you information on other local schools with available places.