Date 1 March 2012
- Be realistic. More appeals fail than succeed. This is particularly the case if you are seeking a place in an infant class. However, you have nothing to lose by appealing and the following tips should assist you in maximising the prospect of your appeal being one of the successful ones.
- Find out who the admission authority is for your preferred school. If the school is a community or voluntary controlled school, this will be the local authority. If the school is a foundation or voluntary aided school or an academy, this will be the governing body of that school. It is the admission authority that arranges the appeal and will be your opponent in the appeal process.
- Be clear of the admission criteria that apply to your preferred school in the event of an oversubscription of places. These are set by the admissions authority and should be available on the school’s website and in their prospectus.
- Understand why your child was not offered a place by reference to the admissions criteria. Was it because you live too far away? Was it because you did not fulfil the religious requirements for a faith school?
- Was an error made in applying the admission criteria to your child’s application? If so, contact the admissions authority as this may result in your child being offered a place without the need to make an appeal. Document this as well in your appeal form.
- Don’t deal with the appeal in isolation. Remember to put your child’s name down on the Continuing Interest list for your preferred school(s). A surprising number of places can become available in this way – for example, if other parents decide to elect for independent education or move out of the area.
- Remember as well that you can appeal for a place at more than one of the schools that you specified on your application form and at which you were not allocated a place. In Hertfordshire, you can therefore appeal for a place at all three of your ranked schools.
- Know the test that the Appeal Panel will apply when they consider your appeal. The test is different depending on whether you are appealing against the refusal of an infant class place (ie Reception, Year 1 or Year 2) or a place in subsequent school years. Click here to obtain a free copy of our Guide to School Admissions Appeals which details what these appeal criteria are. Different criteria apply if your child has a statement of Special Educational Needs.
- The appeal process consists of submitting a written appeal form or letter of appeal, followed by the opportunity to attend an oral hearing before the Appeal Panel. Make sure that you deal with all of the points that the Appeal Panel will consider. Focus on the school that you want and your child. Do not waste time criticising the school that you have been offered.
- Get your appeal in on time. The closing date for appeals for a place at Hertfordshire secondary schools is 4pm on 29th March 2012 and for a place at primary schools is 15th May 2012.
We wish you the very best of luck with your appeal.
If you would like our further assistance, we can draft your grounds of appeal and represent you at the appeal hearing. Contact Clare Mackay by email clare.mackay@salaw.com or by telephone 01727 798092 for further details.
© SA LAW 2012
Every care is taken in the preparation of our articles. However, no responsibility can be accepted to any person who acts on the basis of information contained in them. You are recommended to obtain specific advice in respect of individual cases.