Process of appeal
If a place is not offered at the parent's/carer's preferred choice of school there is the right of appeal to an independent body under the School Standards and Framework Act of 1998 - Section 94 and Schedule 24.
Where the child has not been issued with a proposed or final Statement of Special Educational Needs and parents/carers do not wish to accept the place offered at another school, they have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel arranged by South Gloucestershire Council Legal and Democratic Services.
The appeal must be in writing and include:
- The full name, address and date of birth of the child
- The name(s) of the preferred schools
- The reasons for the preference
- The grounds for the appeal
You may appeal for more than one school if you wish. If you do appeal for more than one school, each appeal must be made separately in writing.
The appeal should be sent to:
Student Access and Support Team
Riverside Court
Bowling Hill
Chipping Sodbury
South Gloucestershire
BS37 6JX
Where the child has been issued with a proposed or final Statement of Special Educational Needs and has not been offered a place at the preferred school the appeal against the local authority's decision is to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. Further details can be obtained by contacting:
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
7th Floor, Windsor House
50 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NW
Parents and carers who do not wish to make a formal appeal can alternatively ask for their child to continue to be considered for any available places at the preferred school.
Further applications and appeals
When an appeal is dismissed there is no automatic right for a further appeal to be granted.
Parents who have appealed unsuccessfully may reapply for a place at the same school in a later academic year and have a right of appeal if unsuccessful.
If parents seek to reapply in the same academic year a further appeal will not be considered unless there are significant and material changes in the circumstances of the parent, child or school since the time of the original application. A significant and material change in circumstances would include:
- Where a change of address has occurred which means the home address is significantly closer to the preferred school or is now in the Area of Prime Responsibility for the preferred school
- Where a sibling link has been created at the preferred school which was not there at the time of the original appeal
- Where new evidence is introduced and is supported by a letter from a doctor, psychologist, social worker or health visitor, which could not have been introduced at the time of the original appeal hearing
These notes are intended to act as examples of circumstances which may warrant a further appeal. Parents may submit a case for the authority to consider a further appeal if there are other reasons, which could not have been submitted at the time of the original application and appeal hearing, which they feel should be taken into account.
All requests for a further appeal should be made in writing to:
The Student Access and Support Team
Riverside Court
Bowling Hill
Chipping Sodbury
South Gloucestershire
BS37 6JX