Who do I send my school admission appeal letter to?

You should write to the school's admission appeal panel. The letter must set out your specific grounds for appealing the refusal under the School Admissions Code. It is important to focus on how the refusal causes prejudice to your child and their specific needs, rather than writing a generic letter praising the school.

How long do I have to submit my appeal?

The appeal deadline is usually 20 school days from the date of the refusal. Missing this deadline is a common mistake that can invalidate your appeal. You should check the specific date on your refusal letter and ensure your letter is submitted before this time limit expires to remain eligible for a hearing.

What information must be included in the appeal letter?

You must include your child's name and date of birth, the date of the refusal, and the preferred school. The letter should detail your grounds for appeal, reasons why the school is the right placement, and specific factors such as social welfare, medical needs, siblings, or distance. You must also explain why granting the appeal will not cause unreasonable prejudice to the school.

Do I need to send documents with my appeal letter?

Yes, you should enclose a list of evidence supporting your claims. Failing to evidence your claims with documents is a common reason for appeals to fail. The letter template includes a specific section for listing the evidence you are providing to the admission appeal panel to support your arguments.

What should I ask for at the end of the letter?

The letter should request that the appeal panel allows your appeal and directs the admission authority to admit your child to the preferred school. It should also ask for confirmation of receipt and the date of the appeal hearing. The appeal is heard by an independent admission appeal panel under the School Admission Appeals Code.

← All Templates

Education

Education Law

Updated 2026-05-21

School Admission Appeal Letter

Letter to the school's admission appeal panel setting out the grounds for an admission appeal under the School Admissions Code.

This template was not drafted by a solicitor.

It is an editorial reference based on the official sources we cite. You are responsible for any document you send. For high-stakes matters (court proceedings, large sums, deportation, criminal allegations, child welfare), have a regulated solicitor review or draft your document.

When to use this template

Your child has been refused a place at your preferred school and you want to appeal to an independent admission appeal panel.

When NOT to use this template

Before the formal admission decision has been made; for in-year admissions where the school is not over-subscribed (the school must offer a place unless prejudice rules apply).

Legal Basis

School Standards and Framework Act 1998; School Admissions Code; School Admission Appeals Code.

Before you send

Generic letters about how lovely the school is — focus on prejudice and the child's specific needs
Missing the appeal deadline (usually 20 school days from refusal)
Failing to evidence claims with documents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Generic letters about how lovely the school is — focus on prejudice and the child's specific needs
✗Missing the appeal deadline (usually 20 school days from refusal)
✗Failing to evidence claims with documents

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Date*

Admission authority*

Admission authority address*

Child's name*

Child's date of birth*

Date of refusal letter*

Preferred school*

Entry year*

Your grounds of appeal*

Why this is the right school for your child*

Social/emotional welfare factors*

Medical or SEN factors*

Sibling factors*

Distance / travel factors*

Other factors*

Why granting the appeal won't cause unreasonable prejudice*

Evidence enclosed*

Parent's name*

Letter preview

[Parent's Name]
[Parent's Address]
[Telephone] [Email]

[ADMISSION AUTHORITY] — Admission Appeals
[ADMISSION AUTHORITY ADDRESS]

Date: [DATE]

Dear Sir or Madam,

School Admission Appeal — [CHILD'S NAME]

I am the parent of [CHILD'S NAME], date of birth [CHILD'S DATE OF BIRTH]. I appeal against the decision dated [DATE OF REFUSAL LETTER] refusing my application for [CHILD'S NAME] to attend [PREFERRED SCHOOL] for [ENTRY YEAR] entry.

1. My grounds of appeal

[YOUR GROUNDS OF APPEAL]

2. Reasons the preferred school is the right placement for my child

[WHY THIS IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD]

3. Specific factors

(a) The child's social and emotional welfare: [SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WELFARE FACTORS]

(b) Medical or SEN considerations (if any): [MEDICAL OR SEN FACTORS]

(c) Sibling at the school (if any): [SIBLING FACTORS]

(d) Distance / travel safety: [DISTANCE / TRAVEL FACTORS]

(e) Other relevant matters: [OTHER FACTORS]

4. Why granting this appeal will not cause unreasonable prejudice

[WHY GRANTING THE APPEAL WON'T CAUSE UNREASONABLE PREJUDICE]

5. Evidence enclosed

[EVIDENCE ENCLOSED]

I request that the appeal panel allows my appeal and directs the admission authority to admit [CHILD'S NAME] to [PREFERRED SCHOOL].

Please confirm receipt and the date of the appeal hearing.

Yours faithfully,

[PARENT'S NAME]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.

Official Resources

School Admission Appeals Code →

Frequently asked questions

Who do I send my school admission appeal letter to?: You should write to the school's admission appeal panel. The letter must set out your specific grounds for appealing the refusal under the School Admissions Code. It is important to focus on how the refusal causes prejudice to your child and their specific needs, rather than writing a generic letter praising the school.
How long do I have to submit my appeal?: The appeal deadline is usually 20 school days from the date of the refusal. Missing this deadline is a common mistake that can invalidate your appeal. You should check the specific date on your refusal letter and ensure your letter is submitted before this time limit expires to remain eligible for a hearing.
What information must be included in the appeal letter?: You must include your child's name and date of birth, the date of the refusal, and the preferred school. The letter should detail your grounds for appeal, reasons why the school is the right placement, and specific factors such as social welfare, medical needs, siblings, or distance. You must also explain why granting the appeal will not cause unreasonable prejudice to the school.
Do I need to send documents with my appeal letter?: Yes, you should enclose a list of evidence supporting your claims. Failing to evidence your claims with documents is a common reason for appeals to fail. The letter template includes a specific section for listing the evidence you are providing to the admission appeal panel to support your arguments.
What should I ask for at the end of the letter?: The letter should request that the appeal panel allows your appeal and directs the admission authority to admit your child to the preferred school. It should also ask for confirmation of receipt and the date of the appeal hearing. The appeal is heard by an independent admission appeal panel under the School Admission Appeals Code.