Primary school appeals template: Reception and KS1

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

LOCAL AUTHORITY ADMISSIONS SERVICE NAME
LOCAL AUTHORITY ADMISSIONS SERVICE ADDRESS

DATE

Dear LOCAL ADMISSIONS OFFICER,

SCHOOL ADMISSION APPEAL FOR CHILD’S NAME TO ATTEND SCHOOL NAME

I would like to appeal against the decision of the admission authority not to offer CHILD’S NAME a place at SCHOOL NAME.

I am aware that the grounds for the appeal is limited by the provisions of the Infant Class Size legislation. In support of my appeal, my grounds of appeal area as follows:

The admission arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied in my case.

I believe that the admission arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied in my case and that this has effectively denied CHILD’S NAME a place at SCHOOL NAME.

Here, you can explain what error you believe has been made.

Generally, an error will result from the admission authority not taking into due consideration the information provided with the application form.

Most appeals involve a distance factor not being applied correctly, either as a main criterion or in a tiebreak situation.

You will need to provide written evidence to substantiate this. For example, if the distance criterion was incorrectly applied, you might use mapping software to prove your distance from the school.

The decision to refuse admission was not one which a reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.

I believe that the decision not to offer CHILD’S NAME a place at SCHOOL NAME is unreasonable for the following reasons:

Here, you can list the reasons why.

These usually relate to the admission authority not taking into consideration information that was provided with your original application: for example, if the admission authority gives priority to children with medical issues, but these were overlooked.

Additional considerations.

In addition to the above points, I would like the appeal panel to take into consideration the following points:

Here, you can include any additional points that you would like the appeal panel to consider that are not covered by the points made above.

This may include personal circumstances and any logistical difficulties that would be caused by your child attending the allocated school.

Note that the threshold for successful appeals is very high. For an appeal to be successful, the appeal panel will need to be satisfied that the decision to refuse admission was ‘perverse in the light of the admission arrangements,’ i.e. it was ‘beyond the range of responses open to a reasonable decision maker’ or ‘a decision so outrageous in its defiance of logic or of accepted moral standards that no sensible person who had applied his mind to the question could have arrived at it.’

In support of this appeal please find attached the following documents:

These could include a letter from your child’s doctor or consultant, social worker or any other professional who supports your child’s application.

I look forward to hearing from you with the details of when the appeal will be heard.

Yours truly,

YOUR SIGNATURE
YOUR NAME

With thanks to John Chard of School Appeals.

Download TheSchoolRun's free sample appeals letter for primary schools and use it as a template to write your own.