Appeals
If your child is not offered a place at any of the schools you have applied for, you have the right to appeal for a place at any school you have applied for that has refused your child admission.
We follow Birmingham appeals guidance. You can learn more about it here.
The local authority (LA), or the admission authority, must inform a parent of the decision to refuse their child a place at a school they've applied for.
They must tell parents:
- Why admission was refused
- About their right to appeal
- The deadline for lodging an appeal
- Contact details for making an appeal
- How to make an appeal, including setting out their grounds for appeal in writing
Admission authorities cannot limit the grounds on which appeals can be made.
This is set out in paragraph 2.5 of the school admissions appeals code.
Following recent amendments in the Admission Appeals Code 2022, there is flexibility for admission authorities as to how appeals are heard. We may continue to hear appeals by video or telephone conference.
HOW TO APPEAL: Please check the admission arrangements given on the relevant school’s website to find out whether your appeal application should be made to the Chair of the Governing Board/Trust Board at the school or directly to the Local Authority and which form to use. You must give written reasons for your appeal. Your appeal will be heard within 40 school days of being lodged (or 30 school days for in-year appeals).
Appellants will receive at least 10 school days written notice of their appeal hearing date (although this notice can be shorter, by agreement). Appeal papers will be sent to all parties at least 5 school days prior to the appeal hearing. Any additional evidence must be submitted to the Appeal Clerk at least 5 school days prior to the appeal hearing. Decision letters will be sent within 5 school days following the hearing, where
practicable.
See this DfE guidance for more detail.
Appeals Timetable 2024/25
Appeals Timetable
Appeal applications should be made in writing to the Chair of Governors for any Church of England Birmingham school which is its own Admissions Authority (any Academy or Voluntary Aided school). Please ask the school/Academy for an Appeal Form. You must give written reasons for your appeal. For any other type of school, application should be made to the Local Authority within which the school is situated.
Once an appeal has been lodged, appellants will receive at least 14 calendar days written notice of their appeal hearing date (although appellants can waive their right to this). Appeal papers will be sent to all parties at least 5 calendar days prior to the appeal hearing.
If you would like to submit additional evidence prior to the appeal hearing, you should ensure that this is submitted to the Appeal Clerk at least 7 calendar days prior to the appeal hearing. Decision letters will be sent within 7 calendar days following the hearing, where practicable.
Children due to start Reception class in September 2025:
- Application period starts - 1 October 2024
- Closing Date for applications - 15 January 2025
- National Primary Offer Day – Monday 16 April 2025
- Deadline for lodging appeals – Sunday 2 June 2025
- Appeals received by 2 June 2025 will be heard in June and July 2025 (and by 21 June 2025)
Appeals received after 2 June 2025 (late appeals) will be heard by 21 July 2025 where practicable, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged, whichever is later.
Please note that it may not be possible to hear late appeals before the start of the new school year in September 2025.
Appeals are not heard during school holidays.
In-year Admission Appeals
If your child has been refused a place at one of your preferred schools (primary or secondary) outside the normal round of admissions (ie. at any time other than as above), you may appeal within 28 calendar days of the refusal of the place. Your appeal will, where practicable, be heard within 30 school days of being lodged. In-year Appeal applications must be made in writing to the Chair of Governors for the school.
Please ask the school for an Appeal Form.