How to Appeal a School Place Decision: A Step-by-Step Guide

If your child has been refused a place at any of your preferred schools, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel. Appeals are free and you don't need a lawyer. You should receive a refusal letter with instructions on how to appeal. The deadline is usually 20 school days after the refusal. Don't miss this deadline — late appeals may not be heard before the start of term.

There are two main grounds: 1. The school made a mistake — the admissions criteria were applied incorrectly, or relevant information was overlooked. 2. The prejudice to your child from not being admitted outweighs the prejudice to the school from admitting an extra pupil. This is where you make the case for why this specific school is important for your child. Strong arguments include: specific SEN provision, sibling at the school, medical needs, specialist curriculum, proximity. Weak arguments include: friends attend, you prefer it, it's more convenient.

For Reception, Year 1, and Year 2, classes are limited to 30 pupils per teacher by law. Appeals for these year groups are much harder to win — the panel can only allow the appeal if: • The admissions criteria were applied incorrectly and your child would have been admitted • The decision was unreasonable (very rare) For Year 3 upwards, there is no class size limit and appeals are decided on the balance of prejudice.

1. Read the school's admissions policy carefully — look for any error 2. Gather supporting evidence: medical letters, SEN reports, maps showing distance 3. Write a clear case statement (max 2 pages) explaining why your child needs this school 4. Use PickMySchool data: capacity vs pupils on roll, distance calculations, comparison with alternatives 5. Attend the hearing in person if possible — panels respond to parents who can explain their case directly 6. Be factual and specific, not emotional

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