How to appeal a school allocation

How do I appeal the decision to not offer my child a place in their first choice school?

England

To lodge an appeal, first contact the school’s admission authority, which can be found via your local authority’s website. They are responsible for establishing the appeal panel, although the panel itself is independent.

Then, you and the admission authority will both present your cases and the appeal panel must come to its own independent conclusion as to whether the school should admit your child. The decision of the appeal panel is binding – if the appeal is upheld, the admission authority must offer your child a place at the school.

Admission authorities and appeal panels must comply with the statutory School Admission Appeals Code, which is available here. Guidance for parents on the admission appeals process can also be found here.

Wales

You can find information on how to appeal on your local authority’s website. Details of the process will be provided by the local authority when your appeal is submitted. 

Northern Ireland

If you believe the school did not fairly apply their admissions criteria, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel. You also have the option to apply to the independent Exceptional Circumstances Body (ECB) in cases where there may be strong reasons a child needs to attend a particular school.