School admission appeals

By law, if we refuse your child a place at the school or schools you prefer, you can appeal against the decision.

Please note that you can only appeal for a school place where you have applied and been refused a place. Normally you can only appeal for the same school once for each academic year.

If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) you cannot use this appeal process. You must appeal to the special needs tribunal. To do this please contact the Special Education Needs Service.

Before deciding whether to appeal, you will probably want to think about:

• the schools published policy for admitting pupils
• your reasons for wanting your child to attend the school
• your child's view of what school they should go to
• how strong a case you have

All appeals will usually be during office hours and take place at East Ham Town Hall or Newham Dockside between the hours of 9am -6pm. The decision to uphold or not uphold your appeal will be made by an independent appeal panel.

Please see the Admissions Appeals Timetable page for more information (when we will hear your appeal).

How do I appeal?

• Download the admission appeal form for secondary school admissions here:
  
  Admission appeal form - moving from primary to secondary (Word)

• This form should be completed for appeals for all Newham maintained schools, including Voluntary Aided and Voluntary Controlled Schools, and non-maintained Academies in Newham. To appeal for a school outside of Newham you must contact the local authority responsible for that school, or the school direct.

• On the form you receive, you must enter the reasons for wanting the school. You must set out your grounds for appeal in writing, failure to do so will mean that your appeal will not be considered. It is important that you state any religious, philosophical, medical or social reasons and return it to:
  
  Admissions Appeals - Committee and Partnerships
  London Borough of Newham
  Legal and Democratic Services
  3rd Floor, Eastside
  Newham Dockside
  1000 Dockside Road
  E16 2QU

Please send any supporting documents in with your appeal. Supporting documentation must be submitted 5 school days prior to the appeal hearing. Please note that additional information that is not submitted by this date may not be considered by the appeal panel. The Appeal Panel must decide whether any material not submitted by the specified deadline is to be considered, taking into account its significance and the effect of a possible need to adjourn the hearing.

• You may be accompanied by a friend, or have your case presented by an advocate if you wish. A friend or adviser can be a locally elected politician or an employee of the local education authority, such as an educational social worker, special educational needs adviser or learning mentor, provided that this will not lead to a conflict of interest. You may also bring any witnesses or be represented at the hearing if you cannot attend.
• You will be notified in writing that your appeal form has been received. This will tell you the deadlines under which your appeal must be heard.
• A second letter detailing the exact date, time and venue will be sent to you 10 school days before the hearing.