School admission appeal hearings

If you appeal because your child has been refused a place at one of your preferred schools, we will invite you to an appeal hearing. 

The appeal hearing is an opportunity for: 

• The school's admission authority to explain why your child was refused a place at the school 
• You to explain why you want your child to go to the school 

When and where the appeal hearing will take place

We will tell you how and when the appeal hearing will happen at least 10 school days before the hearing.

The hearing will happen:

• By video call using Microsoft Teams,
• By phone, or
• Using written submissions

If you applied for admission to reception, transfer to junior school, or transfer to secondary school the hearing will take place:

• In April or May 2025 for Secondary transfer appeals
• In June or July 2025 for Junior transfers and admission to Reception class appeals
• Within 40 school days of the closing date for appeals

If you applied for an in-year transfer, the appeal hearing will take place within 30 school days of the date the admissions team receives your completed appeal form.

Before the appeal hearing

You will get a written summary of the admission authority's case for refusing your child a place at the school.

You may also want to read:

• Guide for parents appealing for a place in an infant class (reception, year 1, year 2) (PDF) [405KB]
• Guide for parents appealing for a place at a voluntary controlled or community school (PDF) [419KB]
• Guide for parents appealing for a place at a school or academy that is its own admissions authority (PDF) [187KB]
• Guide to appealing when you child has been refused a school place based on their challenging behaviour (PDF) [391KB]
• Advice about school admission appeals for parents and guardians on GOV.UK

You should try to attend the hearing. The panel will consider a written appeal case if you decide not to attend. 

You can bring a friend, relative, or representative with you.  

At the appeal hearing 

Your appeal will be heard in private. 

An independent appeal panel will listen to the appeal case. There are usually three panel members. They are volunteers and independent of the school and the Council. 

The appeals clerk will also be there to record what is said and give the panel legal advice. 

A presenting officer for the school's admission authority will explain to the panel why your child was refused a place at the school. You will get the opportunity to explain to the panel why you want your child to go to the school. 

The panel will decide whether your child should be given a place at the school. Their decision will be based on balancing the needs of your child against the effect of admitting another child to the school. 

After the appeal hearing 

Where possible, we will send you the decision by email the next working day. We'll also send you a letter within 5 school days explaining the decision and the reasons for it. 

The appeal panel's decision is binding on both parents and the admission authority. 

You have no further right of appeal within the same academic year unless there is a significant change in circumstances. This would include a new medical problem or a house move, where this wasn't known and considered at the original appeal hearing.