School admission appeals
I want to appeal – what can I do?
If we haven’t been able to offer your child a place at your preferred school you can:
- ask for your child to be put on a waiting list. We will send you details of how to join the waiting list and how they work when we write to you.
- ask an independent appeal panel to hear your reasons for wanting a place at a particular school. The appeal panel is able to overturn decisions that East Sussex County Council and the governors of voluntary aided schools have made.
You may only appeal for a place at a school if it was one that you originally requested on your school admissions application.
The appeals process
Details of the appeals process will be sent to you with the letter giving you our decision about your child’s school place.
If you wish to appeal, complete the form below and return it within 15 school days of receiving a decision to the School Appeals Manager. Your appeal will be passed to the Independent Appeal Panel for them to consider.
The details you give us on the appeal form will play a major part in your appeal hearing, so please ensure that you fill it in carefully. You must complete a separate form for each school that you want to appeal for.
Voluntary aided schools
These have their own appeals process and you will have to contact the school directly to obtain this information. Your appeal will be passed to the panel for them to consider.
Infant class size appeals
These are restricted by law to 30 pupils with a single qualified teacher. If your child has not has not been given a place because the class is full then you have a right to appeal. However, appeals are often unsuccessful because of these legal restrictions.
What happens when we receive your form
Once we have received your completed form the School Appeals Manager will send you a letter acknowledgement letter. The School Appeals Manager will then give you at least 10 school days written notice of the date, time and place of your appeal hearing. Most appeals will normally be heard within 30 school days of receiving your form.
You may be accompanied or represented by a friend, adviser, interpreter or signer who may speak on your behalf at the hearing. The friend or representative cannot be a member of the local authority, a member of the admission authority concerned or a local elected politician. Whilst you are entitled to legal representation, government guidance indicates that in most cases this should not normally be necessary.
What if you’re sick on the day of the appeal?
If you’re sick on the day of the appeal you can either:
- choose to have your appeal heard in your absence on the basis of the written evidence that you and the Children’s Services Department have already submitted to the Panel, or
- choose to have your appeal heard on an alternate date, although there may be some delay in providing an alternate date.
When will you hear the appeal decision?
You will normally receive written confirmation of the Independent Appeal Panel’s decision within one week of the hearing. However, you will be advised at the appeal hearing if we believe that it may take longer than this. For example, if there are a number of appeals to be heard for the same school, decisions cannot be conveyed until all the appeals have been heard.
Further questions
If you have any further questions, please contact us about School admission appeals.
