Telling you about the appeal decision

The clerk will send you a letter to let you know:

  • the outcome of your appeal
  • the reason for the decision

This usually happens within 5 working days from the date of your appeal hearing. It may take longer if there are multiple appeals for the same school.

If your appeal is successful, your child will be admitted to the school.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, your child should attend one of the alternatives we offer. If you prefer, and a place is available, you can accept a place in one of the other school you applied to.

You also have the right to educate your child at home. You'll need to satisfy us that you can provide a suitable education at home.

Further actions you can take

Complain to the Local Government Ombudsman

You can complain about the appeal process, but not about the decision itself.

Your complaint must be about the failure to follow correct procedures, or a failure to act independently or fairly.

You should make your complaint to The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).

Complain to the Secretary of State

If you're dissatisfied with the appeal decision, you can complain to the Secretary of State. Do this if you consider that:

  • the way the admissions authority operates its admission arrangements is unreasonable, or
  • the panel was wrongly constituted

Judicial review

An appeal panel decision can only be overturned by the courts where either the person appealing or the admission authority successfully applies for a Judicial Review of that decision.