School admissions appeals and exclusions

What happens if my child did not get a place at the school they wanted?

There is no charge for a parent to make an appeal. However, appeals take up a lot of administrative time for all involved - parents, the school, school admissions, democratic services and appeal panel members, so admission authorities do not take lightly the decision to refuse a child a school place. 

All parents have a right to express a preference for the school they would like their child to attend. The admission authority must offer a place at that school unless there is a legal reason for refusing a place. The most common reason for not offering a place is that the school(s) received more applications than places available and other children had a higher priority for a place at the school than your child when the school's admission policy was applied. For in-year applications it is usually that the school has already reached it’s admission number in that year group.

In both instances the school will not wish to admit more pupils as this will adversely affect resources and the education of other children at the school.

What to consider before you appeal

Some families can find this a stressful experience and it can take time for appeals to be heard, which can lengthen the period of uncertainty for you and your child. It’s important to be realistic about why you are appealing and the chance of your appeal being successful. The majority of school admissions appeals are refused. This is particularly the case if you’re appealing for an infant class (reception, year 1 and year 2), where the law prevents a school from admitting more than 30 pupils per teacher, other than in specific circumstances. As such, there are limited circumstances in which an appeal panel can uphold an infant class appeal.

Accepting an offer of a school place at another school does not impact your appeal. Government guidance recommends you consider accepting any offers so that you have secured a school place for your child in case your appeal is unsuccessful.

Applicants will only be able to appeal once in any one school year unless, in exceptional circumstances, the admission authority has accepted a second application because of a significant and material change in the circumstances of the parent/carer, child or school. 

Before starting the appeals process, consider the alternatives:

• Accept the school place you have been offered. If you are a Wokingham resident, you will have been offered a school place. Accepting this place will guarantee that your child can start school, even if no places become available at your preferred school. This will not affect your right to submit an appeal or your child’s current position on a waiting list.
• Remain on the waiting list for your preferred schools. Your child’s name will automatically be added to any waiting list where your application has been unsuccessful. When a place becomes available, it will be offered to the child who is at the top of this list at that time. The waiting list is ordered in accordance with each school’s admissions policy.
• Apply for an alternative school. If you wish to apply for a school that was not on your original application, you can do this by contacting the admissions team schooladmissions@wokingham.gov.uk

What happens at an appeal hearing? 

Your appeal will be heard by a panel of 3 members (the appeal panel), and wherever possible you can attend the appeal hearing to tell the appeal panel why you would like a place at the school for your child.

The appeal panel will look at how the places at the school were given and why you could not be offered a place including any relevant law (the admission authority’s case.) The appeal panel will also consider your individual circumstances (your case.) 

The decision of the appeal panel is binding on both parties which means that this is your only appeal against the original decision, and whatever decision the appeal panel makes will be final.