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Information on admission appeals

Primary School Admission Appeals

It is very important that a fair and independent process is in place for parents to appeal against decisions made by an admissions authority.

Parents can also ask for their child to be admitted to any school in any school term. For example if a family has recently moved home. However, only one appeal per child for a particular school is allowed in each school year.

If you are looking for schools in the local area, then please follow the link below to see what school(s) are closest to your home address (using a straight line distance)

Find-a-School

Types of appeal

There are 2 types of school admission appeal: ‘Infant Class Size’ appeals and ‘Efficient Use of Resources’ appeals. 

The independent Appeal Panel considers ‘Infant Class Size’ appeals differently from other year groups. ‘Infant Class Size’ restrictions are rules that apply to all appeals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. These rules apply if your child’s admission has been refused because the class has reached its legal limit of 30 children per school teacher.

There are extremely limited grounds on which an ‘Infant Class Size’ appeal may be upheld.

For ‘Efficient Use of Resources’ appeals, the independent Appeal Panel will weigh up whether or not your circumstances outweigh the admission authority’s circumstances.

Please see Questions and answers about appeals for more information.

The appeal process for Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary, Infant, Primary and Junior Schools

The appeal process we use follows strict national guidance. You will receive information on the appeals process with the letter from Gloucestershire County Council. This will explain why your child has not been offered a place at your preferred school. If it has not been possible to offer you a place at a school you prefer you will now be offered a place for your child at the nearest school with places available.

There is more information about the admissions process on our school admission pages:

The appeal process following a decision by the Governors of a Voluntary Aided, Foundation School or Academy

If you want to appeal against a decision by the Governors of a Voluntary Aided, Foundation School, Trust or Academy you will need to contact the school directly. These schools are responsible for organising their own appeals and setting their own timetable.

Timetable

Appeals resulting from year of entry or transfer applications for admission to Community or Voluntary Controlled Schools in Gloucestershire for September 2023 will be heard according to the following timetable:

Allocation day

  • Secondary Schools: 1 March 2023
  • Primary Schools: 17 April 2023

Deadline for lodging appeals (for community and voluntary controlled schools)

  • Secondary Schools: 11th April 2023
  • Primary Schools: 26th May 2023
  • (however appeals lodged after this date must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged)

Date appeals will be heard by if received by deadline date (for local authority schools)

  • Secondary Schools: 19th June 2023
  • Primary Schools: 25th July 2023

Appeals lodged after these deadline dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date. Most school appeals will be heard before and after the school summer holidays for children starting primary/junior/secondary* schools where possible.

*Archway Secondary School is the only Community/Voluntary Controlled Secondary School in Gloucestershire.

 

Schools outside of Gloucestershire

Appeals for schools outside of Gloucestershire should be made in accordance with the published admission arrangements of the local authority concerned.

Special Educational Needs

If you want to appeal against the provision of Special Education for your child, contact Gloucestershire County Council's Special Educational Needs Team for information and advice on 01452 427895 as this comes under a different process.

If you have any questions about the school named in your child’s Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), please follow this link to find information, as this comes under a different process:

If you have any queries about school admission appeals please contact us at school.appeals@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Further advice

For further advice on making an appeal for reception 2023 entry, please contact the Co-ordinated Admissions Team:

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