Do schools leave places for appeals?

Even if you choose to accept a place for your child at another school, you still have the right to appeal a decision by another school. It will not risk your child’s school place in any way, or mean that they end up having two places allocated to them.

What can I expect from a school appeal hearing?

You (or your representative) will be asked to put your case. You should explain your reasons for wanting your child to attend the school. The appeal hearing is confidential and you should include all information that is relevant to your case. You may not be able to add anything after the hearing.

Can a parent appeal a second school admission decision?

However, if an admission authority accepts a second application from you because there has been a significant change in circumstances but again decides not to offer your child a place, you can appeal this second decision.

What happens in an appeal for a school place?

The Appeal Panel is there to balance the school’s difficulties caused by admitting her child, against the difficulties your child would experience by not getting in. The legal jargon for those difficulties is ‘prejudice’. Panel members are trained volunteers, and the appeal hearing is refereed by the Clerk who also has extensive legal training.

What to do if your child is denied admission to a school?

It’s important that you clearly set out the reasons why your child should have a place at your choice of school in both your written appeal and at the appeal hearing.

What to do if you are refused a place in a secondary school?

If you are refused a place at any school you applied for, you have the right to make an appeal to an independent appeal panel. IF YOU ARE APPEALING FOR A PLACE IN AN INFANT CLASS (that already has 30 pupils) THE APPEAL IS HANDLED DIFFERENTLY – see the Infant Class Appeals section 3.2 below 3.1 SECONDARY SCHOOL & NON-INFANT CLASS APPEALS

Can a child appeal for a school place?

Places at a school can be granted on appeal in two circumstances: 1) When a school has applied its admissions procedures incorrectly (rare as hens’ teeth), or 2) When the harm done to your child by not getting a place there will be greater than that caused to all the other children by overcrowding.

It’s important that you clearly set out the reasons why your child should have a place at your choice of school in both your written appeal and at the appeal hearing.

What to do if a school does not offer your child a place?

If you’ve applied to a school and it does not offer your child a place, you have the right to appeal this decision. If you or your child applied to a school sixth form and it does not offer your child a place, both you and your child can appeal the decision.