The school admission appeal process
The independent appeal panel makes its decision in private with our Education Appeals Clerk present. The panel members consider all the evidence and the answers given to any questions. The clerk guides the members as to the requirements of the law and records their decision.
The panel will decide either:
- to uphold the appeal; in which case your child will be admitted to the school
- to dismiss the appeal; in which case you will not be offered a place at the school
The Education Appeals Clerk will send the decision in writing to all parties as soon as possible and by no later than seven calendar days after the hearing. You will not be advised of the decision over the telephone or in person.
Please note: where appeals for the same year at the same school are heard over several days, decisions are not made until after the last appeal is heard.
If you have not received a decision letter within two weeks of the hearing, please email education.appeals@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
See section 18 of our guidance for parents (PDF) for further information.
Please note: This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you need an accessible version, please email education.appeals@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
If your appeal isn't successful
If your appeal is unsuccessful, there is no further right of appeal.
If you believe that the appeal panel acted improperly or unreasonably in considering your case, you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The ombudsman can investigate the procedures. The ombudsman cannot overturn the decision.
If the parent or admission authority successfully applies for judicial review in the courts, the decision can be overturned, but may not be.
See section 22 of our guidance for parents (PDF) for further information.
Please note: This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you need an accessible version, please email education.appeals@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Withdrawing your appeal
If you change your mind after you have submitted an appeal, you can withdraw your appeal form via the appellant portal. Select ‘view appeal details’ in the appellant portal. The option to withdraw your appeal will be shown at the bottom of the page.