What happens after lodging an appeal?
Applicants who lodged their appeal online will receive an automatic acknowledgement (receipt with a unique appeal reference number) that will provide more information. If this does not arrive within an hour email educationappeals@newham.gov.uk for advice.
What happens next?
Ten working days before your hearing (until the end of the temporary regulations this will be 14 days before your hearing) appellants will:
- Receive a letter from NISAAS advising you where, when and how your appeal will be heard and the names of who will be present. It will usually be during office hours at Newham Dockside, Newham Town Hall or another suitable venue. If the law permits a virtual conferencing facility, for example Zoom maybe offered as an option.
- Be sent a formal statement (known as written representations) from the Admission Authority explaining why the school could not offer a place and why the school cannot admit additional children.
If the appellant knows any of the panel members, they must declare this to NISAAS before the hearing starts, stating how they know them.
From when the appeal is lodged up to the day of the hearing, the appellant should be preparing their own case; this is known as written representations. This should include any documents that can verify the facts of the case, such as medical evidence or letters.
For supporting documents to be considered by the Independent Panel, these must submitted at least one day before the hearing.
What is the timeline?
Appeal hearings are time tabled for every month during term time but the period of time between when an appeal is lodged and when it is actually heard is set in law.
In Year Admissions:
In year admissions are where a place is applied for outside of the normal entry points for example when a family arrive in Newham from overseas or elsewhere in the UK during the school year.
There is no closing date for lodging an in year appeal, the only requirement is that you have not withdrawn your application for the school.
An in year admission appeals must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
Normal admissions:
Secondary Admissions
The normal point of entry to school is September, as part of a transition from one year group to another. For example entry for primary to secondary transition and 14-19 transition.
For all applicants whose school application was submitted in time for an outcome to be sent to them on national offer day 1 March 2023, appeals must be heard within 40 school days of their deadline for lodging appeals.
The deadline for lodging appeals for September 2023 entry will be 23:59 on 29 March 2023 year 7 entry.
For all applicants whose school applications were submitted were submitted too late for outcome to be sent to them on national offer day 1 March 2023, appeals must be heard where possible within 40 school days of their deadline for lodging appeals or within 30 schools days of the appeal being lodged.
The online appeal application form will be available from 1 March 2023.
Primary Admissions
The normal point of entry to school is September, as part of a transition from one year group to another. For example entry to reception classes or infant to junior transition.
For all applicants whose school applications were submitted in time for an outcome to be sent to them on national offer day 17 April 2023, appeals must be heard within 40 school days of their deadline for lodging appeals.
The deadline for lodging appeals for September 2022 entry will be 23:59 on 30 May 2023 for reception and year 3 entry.
For all applicants whose school applications were submitted too late for the outcome to be sent to them on national offer day 17 April 2023, appeals must be heard where possible within 40 school days of their deadline for lodging appeals, or within 30 schools days of the appeal being lodged.
The online appeal form will be available from 17 April 2023.