Secondary school new year 7 admissions appeals

What you can appeal and how to make an appeal

Right to appeal

You've a right to appeal to an independent appeal panel against the decision to refuse your child a place at your preferred school. You must appeal by 4 May 2018. Appeals are heard from June onwards.

How to appeal

Bristol schools

For the schools listed below complete and return their appeals form.

For all other Bristol schools, complete the appeals form (pdf, 82KB) (opens new window) and return your written grounds of appeal to School Admissions by 4 May 2018.

• Ashton Park School (pdf, 401KB) (opens new window)
• Bedminster Down School (pdf, 116KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Brunel Academy (pdf, 410KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Catherdral School (pdf, 462KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Free School (pdf, 750KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Metropolitan Academy (pdf, 410KB) (opens new window)
• Colston Girls School (pdf, 495KB) (opens new window)
• Cotham School (pdf, 407KB) (opens new window)
• Fairfield High School (pdf, 435KB) (opens new window)
• Oasis Academy John Williams (pdf, 116KB) (opens new window)
• Redland Green School (pdf, 419KB) (opens new window)
• St Bede's School (pdf, 85KB) (opens new window)
• St Bernadette (pdf, 132KB) (opens new window)
• St Mary Redcliffe and Temple (pdf, 63KB) (opens new window)

Schools outside Bristol

Complete and return the appeals form for the schools listed below.

BANES schools

• Beechen Cliff (pdf, 14KB) (opens new window)
• Chew Valley (pdf, 51KB) (opens new window)
• Hayesfield Girls' (pdf, 21KB) (opens new window)
• Oldfield (pdf, 21KB) (opens new window)
• Ralph Allen (pdf, 45KB) (opens new window)
• Wellsway  (pdf, 45KB) (opens new window)

North Somerset schools

• A guide to appeals for North Somerset secondary schools (pdf, 52KB) (opens new window)
• North Somerset appeals form (pdf, 23KB) (opens new window)  

South Gloucestershire schools

• Abbeywood School (pdf, 215KB) (opens new window)

• Bradley Stoke Community School  (pdf, 215KB) (opens new window)
• Castle School (pdf, 627KB) (opens new window)
• Downend School (pdf, 262KB) (opens new window)
• John Cabot School (pdf, 330KB) (opens new window)

Appeal hearing

You'll receive at least 10 school days notice of the date, time and place of the appeal hearing. You're encouraged to come and speak at the appeal hearing.

What the appeal panel takes into account

The independent appeal panel take into account the:

• preference you expressed
• reasons for your school preference
• admission authority’s published admission arrangements
• admission authority’s reasons for refusing a place

The independent appeal panel is not bound by the admission authority’s published criteria and has the power to make a place available even if the year group is full. The appeal panel will be able to take your reasons for wanting your child to attend the school or academy into account.

If an appeal is upheld

The decision of the independent appeal panel is binding on the admission authority. This means your child will be admitted to the school, even if the year group is full. The decision of independent appeal panel can only be overturned by the courts.

If an appeal is dismissed

When an appeal is dismissed there is no automatic right to a second appeal. A second appeal can only be granted if a significant change of circumstances has occurred since the original appeal was heard. A significant change in circumstances would include:

• where a sibling of statutory school age has been offered a place or has started at the preferred school and this information was not known at the time of the original hearing
• change of address, now living significantly closer to the preferred school, or now reside within the area of first priority for the school
• where new evidence which could not have been introduced at the time of the original appeal has become available and supported by a letter from a doctor, psychologist or social worker

Appeal guidance

Appeal guidance notes and appeal proforma letters are available with the allocation statement for the school on the allocation statements from previous years.