The Appeal Panel

Three people sit on each school admission appeal panel, they include the following:

• people who have experience in education, are acquainted with educational conditions in the LA’s area or who are parents of registered pupils at a school; and                                                                                      
• lay members who have no personal experience in the management or provision of education in any school (other than as a school governor or in any other voluntary capacity)

All panel members have been trained. The panel will be independent of the LA (or Governing Body in the case of Voluntary Aided Schools) and will have no connection with any of the schools under consideration.

Who else will be present?

The clerk (a member of the Council's Democratic Services Section) will take notes at the hearing and give guidance on the conduct of the appeal if necessary. The clerk also ensures that the relevant facts are established and that the appeal hearing is conducted fairly.

There will be a representative from the LA (or Governing Body in the case of Voluntary Aided Schools) who will explain why admission to the school has been refused.

How to go about making your case

It is advisable to concentrate on the reasons you want this particular school and why you think it would be the best for your child. You should provide written information to support any particular reasons for your appeal e.g. evidence about a medical condition, bullying or family problems. If your case is based on a house move you should provide written evidence of this such as exchange of contracts or a rental agreement.

There may also be personal or other reasons that you feel are important to present to the Appeal Panel. Please include as much detail as possible in your written submission. There is no statutory time limit for submitting information about your appeal.