School Admission Appeal Solicitors

Like any formal process, school admission procedures can work well for you or be a source of contention, frustration or disappointment. We are here to help if you have not been able to secure the school place of your choice. Get in touch today. We offer a fixed fee initial consultation with our team to discuss your needs and see how we can offer school appeals help.

We only act on behalf of children, students and their parents. We do not act on behalf of schools, colleges or universities.

Please note that we are only able to take on cases on a privately paying basis. If you are unable to privately fund your case or you are looking for general guidance on what actions you can take to protect you or your child’s education rights, you can contact Citizens Advice.

In many situations, primary school admissions and secondary school admissions can be a source of extreme stress and can potentially derail a well-planned academic future. You will have worked hard to ensure your child attends the best school for them, the school of your choice, and therefore you deserve a successful outcome to your application for a school place.

If you have not secured the school place of your choice, you can arrange a fixed fee initial consultation with one of our expert school admission appeal solicitors. We can also represent you at a school admission appeal hearing.

School Admission Appeal

It is vital that you are able to address the key issues, to maximise your chances of a successful school admission appeal. If time is a factor, legal representation from expert school admission appeal solicitors is essential. There is only short period of time to appeal a school decision, so do not delay taking action.

Although the education admission authority must give you at least 20 school days to make your school admission appeal, this time will quickly pass by and as careful thought needs to be given to the structure and content of a school admission appeal, it is likely to be sensible to take expert school admissions appeals advice promptly.

When you are informed of the decision to refuse your child a place at the school of your choice, you will be advised the reason for the refusal and given information about your right of appeal, including the deadline for the school admission appeal and where your appeal must be sent. Your appeal must be in writing and thus care and thought should be given to the content of your appeal.

Once the admission appeal has been submitted parents will be given at least 10 school days’ notice of the hearing of the appeal. Once the appeal has been heard, a decision letter will be sent to parents, usually within five school days.

How we can help

At IBB Law, our expert school appeal solicitors can assist with all elements of the academic school appeal process. This includes, but not limited to:

Advising on your legal options and guidance
Advising on time frames
Drafting Grounds of Appeal Documentation
Reviewing your documents and assisting with supporting documentation
Providing formal representation at the appeal hearing

Unfortunately, while all families are allowed to express a preference for their child, there is no hard-and-fast guarantee that allows that preference to be honoured.

Our school appeal solicitors provide expert and tailored guidance for your school admission appeal, giving you the best chance of securing for your child the place they need for their education and future.

We offer a fixed fee initial consultation with our team to discuss your needs and see how we can offer school appeals help. If we can help you with a school admission appeal, we will advise you at the conclusion of the initial consultation meeting of the likely work involved, the timescale and the likely cost. We aim to provide certainty over the costs involved.

Our school appeal solicitors specialise in helping children, students and their parents. We do not act on behalf of schools, colleges or universities in respect of school admission appeals.

We will give you step by step guidance to help you through the school appeal process.

Initial Fixed Fee Consultation

If you want to know more about how we can help with school admission appeals, please contact our education law senior administrator, Rachael, on 01895 207230 or email educationteam@ibblaw.co.uk. Rachael will arrange an initial consultation, at a fixed fee, with one of our expert school admission appeal solicitors, who spend 100% of their day working for children, students and their parents on a range of education disputes.

How our education law specialists can help with school admissions appeals

Infant Class Appeals

Infant class appeals are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Schools are legally required not to exceed 30 children in a class. However, there are exceptions to this rule, but to overcome the default position of no more than 30 children, requires well thought out legal argument.

In-Year Admissions

Moving between schools mid-year is common and admissible in a number of situations. If an admissions request is refused due to the school being full, parents are able to exercise their right of appeal.

Secondary School Appeals

Transfer procedures open up a range of options when it comes to formulating arguments and undertaking formal appeals. This will involve addressing the issue of potential prejudice and factor in resource allocation. Submissions require careful crafting to maximise your prospects of dealing with the secondary school appeals process.

SSEN Adjacent Appeals

If a child is subject to a Statement of Special Education Needs (SSEN) or an Educational Health and Care plan (EHCP) and is not allocated a place, you have the potential to appeal to a First Tier Tribunal instead of a school admissions appeal panel. Securing specialised, school admissions appeals advice for this process is highly recommended.

Common questions about school admissions appeals

What can you do if your child does not get into their choice of school?

If your child does not secure the school place of your choice, it is important to take the following steps.

Do not panic. There is a formal process available to address your specific issue. Bringing extra stress into the situation will only be counterproductive. We can take you through the school admission appeal process, step by step.
Take time to clarify your issue with the admission authority and ask to be provided with all relevant documentation, i.e. information upon which their decision was based.
Look into the options available to support you with your case.

If issues do arise during admissions, families are able to make appeals to a relevant Independent Appeal Panel (IAP) for your area.

Read our blog ‘What to do if you are unhappy with your child’s school offer’.

Can you appeal a school admission decision?

Yes, you have the right to appeal a school admission decision. If your child is refused a place at a particular school, you can appeal against this decision.

You will receive a letter notifying you of the decision and providing information on how to initiate the appeal process. It’s important to note that you must appeal against each rejection separately, and you can only appeal once for each rejection.

The appeal process gives parents an opportunity to challenge school admission decisions, ensuring that the interests and educational needs of their child are considered.

How to make an appeal for school admission?

To make an appeal for school admission, you should consider the following steps. Upon receiving the admission decision letter, which includes information about the refusal, carefully read the instructions on how to appeal.

You must appeal against each rejection separately. Typically, the letter will guide you on where and how to submit your appeal, providing a specific timeframe within which to do so.

Prepare a compelling case for your appeal, outlining reasons why you believe the school’s decision should be reconsidered. Focus on factors such as the school’s suitability for your child, special circumstances, or any important information that wasn’t initially considered.

Attend the school admission appeal hearing, presenting your case in person. Be thorough, emphasising your child’s needs and the benefits of attending the chosen school. While success is not guaranteed, a well-structured and persuasive appeal can impact the outcome.

How to win a school appeal admission?

Winning a school appeal for admission involves thorough preparation and effective communication. First, carefully read the refusal letter, noting the reasons for rejection.

Develop a compelling case highlighting specific reasons why your child should be admitted, focusing on their needs and the benefits of the chosen school.

Gather supporting evidence, such as relevant documents, or any information that strengthens your case. Clearly articulate any special circumstances or unique aspects that weren’t initially considered.

During the school admission appeal hearing, present your case persuasively, addressing each point raised in the refusal letter, and remain focused on the best interests of your child.

How to write an appeal letter for school admission?

When writing a letter of appeal for school admission, it’s important to clearly state the reasons why your child should secure a place at your preferred school in both your written letter and during the school admission appeal hearing.

While you can appeal purely on the basis that you would like your child to attend a specific school, the strength of your reasoning will influence whether or not your appeal is successful.

Simply stating that you would like your child to attend a school based on its reputation may not be compelling enough for the panel. Instead, focus on the school’s unique offerings that cater to your child’s needs, highlighting what sets it apart from other schools. Emphasise the impact on your child if they do not attend the chosen school.

You also have grounds to appeal if you believe the admission authority did not correctly implement their admission arrangements, and proper application would have resulted in your child receiving an offer from the school.

How many children are successful in their primary school applications?

The proportion of primary school applicants who received an offer of their first preference school, for September 2024, rose by 0.7 percentage points to 93.2%. This was based on a 2.3% drop in the number of applicants for a place at primary school, to around 555,600. Applications have been falling since 2020, although the reduction in on-time applications in 2021 may have been pandemic related. This is likely to be a result of the continued drop in births seen from 2016 onwards.

How many children are successful in their secondary school applications?

The proportion of secondary school applicants who received an offer of their first preference school, for September 2024, increased by 0.3 percentage points to 82.9%, following a 0.7 percentage point decrease in 2023.There were nearly 610,000 secondary applications received (a 1.7% decrease on 2023, which was itself a 1.0% increase on 2022).

We can answer your school admission appeal questions. Get in touch with us today to speak to our expert school admission appeal solicitors.

How to appeal school admissions?
What to say at a school admission appeal?
Can you appeal a school admission decision?
How to write a school admission appeal letter?
How to win a school admission appeal?
How to appeal school admissions?
How to write a successful school admission appeal?
What is the schools admissions appeal process?
When can you appeal a school place?
What happens after a school admission appeal?

Get clear legal advice and support for school admissions appeals

For specific guidance relevant to your situation and to arrange an initial fixed fee education law consultation, as well as representation at the appeal hearing, please contact our education law senior administrator, Rachael, on 01895 207230 or email educationteam@ibblaw.co.uk.