School Admissions and Admission Appeals

This page provides an introduction to school admissions and admission appeals

School Admissions

It's important that you know how and when to apply for a school place for your child. Our booklet on applying for a school will help you to understand the process and what your rights are. It explains how to find information about schools, how places are allocated and how to make an application.

Admission Appeals

All parents have the right to make an admission appeal if their child is not offered a place at their preferred school. Our booklet on appealing for a school will explain how to lodge an appeal, how to put a case together and what to expect at the appeal hearing.

The Codes

To make sure everything is managed fairly, schools and local authorities must follow strict rules. These rules are set out in the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code.The Codes are  statutory and apply to state maintained schools in England and to Academies. They do not apply to independent and private schools and do not cover admission to special schools for children with Education, Health and Care Plans