How to appeal a school place decision
Following the recent postponement of all admission appeal hearings due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the government have made regulatory changes to relax some of the current requirements set out in the School Admission Appeals Code 2012. These changes allow admission authorities to proceed with their admission appeals and crucially, offer flexibility to manage the appeals in a way that best suits local circumstances. The changes have been made carefully to ensure that all families are supported and that none are disadvantaged by the measures in place to protect public health. The new regulations came into force on 24 April 2020 and will remain until 31 January 2021. Specifically, the regulations state that we may choose to hear appeals in a format other than face-to-face. Appeal deadlines have been relaxed, to ensure that all appeal submissions are facilitated and heard within reasonable timescales. A legal clerk will remain a necessary part of the hearing process and their presence is important to ensure the appeals are conducted fairly. After exploring all possible options available within the temporary regulations, we can confirm that all admission appeals coordinated by the Local Authority will be heard on the basis of written representation only. This process will allow for all transition appeals to be heard by September, with hearings being scheduled throughout June, July and August 2021. Click here to see the amended procedure
School Admissions Code and the School Admissions Appeal Code.
The purpose of these codes is to ensure that the admission appeal panel is independent and that appeals are conducted in a fair, transparent and lawful way. You are legally entitled to appeal against the admission authority’s decision to refuse a place at your preferred school(s). Accepting a place at an alternative school does not affect your child’s place on the reserve list for your preferred school(s), or your right of appeal. Your appeal will be heard by an independent school admission appeals panel. The panel's decision is binding on all parties: the school, the admission authority and you. Link to: Timeline for Admissions Appeals for the Academic Year 2020/21
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