Secondary School admissions appeals: What you need to know

On 3 March 2025, parents across the country will receive the results of their child’s secondary school admissions application. This is known as ‘National Offer Day’. 

We understand that being refused a place for your child at your preferred school can be extremely difficult news. If your child has not been offered a place, there are several options available to you.

What are my options?

As a parent, it is important to understand what steps you can take if your child is not allocated a place at your preferred school. You can:

• Request that your child be added to the waiting list for any school that you applied for but have not been offered a place at;
• Apply to another school that you did not previously apply to, if there are places available at that school; and/or
• Appeal the decision of the admission authority to not offer your child a place. 

What is a school admissions appeal?

Parents have the right to appeal to an independent panel set up by the school’s admission authority. A school admissions appeal allows parents to present their case as to why their child should be offered a place at their preferred school. 

What should you consider when making an appeal?

There are several factors that parents should consider before making an appeal. 

If you are going to appeal, you should consider the fact that to appeal you will need to prepare your reasons for appealing the decision in writing (i.e. make written representations) and attend an appeal panel hearing where your appeal will be heard. 

It is understood that naturally you want to appeal the decision, but an appeal takes up a lot of time and can be quite an emotional experience. 

You should consider accepting any offer of a school place you receive to make sure that your child has a place if your appeal is unsuccessful. Accepting another offer will not affect your appeal.

Before you submit an appeal, you should understand how the school allocates its school places. This information can be found in the school’s admissions policy. 

What are reasons for an appeal?

You can appeal if you believe that the admission authority did not apply their admission arrangements properly and if they had applied them properly, they would have offered your child a place at the school. 

You can also appeal if you believe that the prejudice suffered by your child in not attending your chosen school is so significant that it overrides the prejudice suffered by the school in admitting your child.   

What evidence do you need?

The evidence you need will depend on your reason(s) for appealing. For example, you may wish to consider submitting any professional reports that support your case if you arguing that your child has a social or medical need for requiring a place at the school. 

If you are appealing because the school can offer your child something that the school you have been allocated cannot, you may wish to consider submitting the school prospectus, inspection report or any school policies that supports your points. 

What are the timelines?

You have 20 school days to submit an appeal from the date of notification about your application. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for submitting an appeal. You must receive at least 10 school days’ notice of your appeal hearing. 

Once the appeal panel have heard your appeal, they have 5 school days to notify you of their decision in writing. 

What should a parent/guardian expect?

Prior to the appeal, the admission authority must supply the clerk to the appeal panel with all relevant documents needed to conduct the hearing. This must include details of how the admission arrangements and the coordinated admissions scheme apply to your application, the reasons for the decision not to offer a school place, and an explanation as to how the admission of an additional child would impact on the school.

The appeal panel must comprise of at least three panel members. 

The clerk must notify you of the order of the proceedings in advance of the hearing. The order of proceedings will explain when the parties will set out their case, when the parties will get an opportunity to question the other party and when they will sum up their case. 

How should you prepare?

The outcome of the appeal has implications for your child’s education and development. Seeking advice and assistance from an experienced education solicitor can help you prepare for an appeal. 

How can Birkett Long help? 

Appealing an admissions decision is complex and there are procedures that must be followed. At Birkett Long, we offer a free initial telephone consultation to explain the appeals process and discuss how our education solicitors can assist you. 

There is no obligation to instruct us. We want to provide parents with the information they need to understand their rights and make an informed decision. The consultation will allow us to understand your circumstances and consider the best way forward for you.