The school appeals process

When you will hear the outcome of your school appeal

The Appeal Panel’s decision is legally binding and final, the Appeal Panel can only uphold or refuse your appeal. 

An Appeal Panel’s decision can only be overturned by the courts where a parent or admission authority is successful in applying for judicial review of that decision. You will need legal advice if you seek judicial review.

The Appeal Panel cannot:

• discuss the decision with you or the admission authority
• attach any conditions to the decision
• hear complaints or objections about school’s admission policies or practices
• reassess the capacity of the school
• tell the admission authority to change your position on a waiting list
• allocate a place at a school other than the school appealed for

The panel will make its decision after your appeal has concluded, in private and after you and the admission authority have left.

The panel will balance the weight of your reasons for appeal against the prejudice to the school. The panel will balance the consequences for the school and other children by a further admission versus the weight of the parent's case.

If they decide that your case is stronger, they will uphold your appeal, i.e. direct that the school admits your child.

In the case of multiple appeals, decisions are made in private, after all appeals have been heard and after the school and all parents have left.

When dealing with multiple appeals, if the panel finds that there are more cases that outweigh prejudice than the school can admit, it must compare cases and uphold those with the strongest case for admission.

A letter explaining the panel’s decision will be sent to you by email after the panel has made its decision, visit our school appeal timelines page for more information on this.

Panels ensure that their decisions follow the requirements of the School Admissions Appeals Code and the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

How you will receive your decision

Do not call for the decision, we cannot give you the outcome of your appeal over the phone, a decision letter will be sent to you by email in accordance with our school appeal timelines.

Successful appeals

If the Appeal Panel upholds your appeal and you are successful, you will be offered the school place.

The school will be notified of the panel’s decision, which is legally binding unless overturned by the courts.

The school will contact you to make the necessary arrangements for your child’s admission to the school (without unnecessary delay in the case of in-year appeals).

You may contact the school yourself, once you have received a letter notifying you of the panel’s decision.

If your appeal is for September entry, the school will contact you nearer the time.

If your appeal is for immediate entry, contact the school directly to agree the date your child will start.

Unsuccessful appeals

If the Appeal Panel dismisses your appeal and you are unsuccessful, your child will not be allocated a place at the school appealed for.

You can contact the Admissions Team or by email to [email protected] to ask about continued interest or waiting lists and spaces in other schools.

You may search the schools directory for other available schools and apply for them.

For co-ordinated appeals your child’s name will remain on the school’s waiting list until the end of the first school term, if you had made such request.

After this time, you will need to contact the admission authority if you want your child’s name to remain on the waiting list for another term.

You cannot make a second appeal for the same school for the same academic year.

Last updated 04 March 2026