Schools admissions appeals

To appeal for a place at one of our schools you will need to complete the online appeal form below. The school appeals guidance notes explain how to appeal against our decision.

Use one form for each child for any of our schools.

School admissions appeal form

Important information

If you change your preferences and do not list the schools you are appealing for on your most up to date common application form, we will withdraw your appeal.

The appeal will be heard by an independent appeal panel of three people, who have no connection with the school or the School Admissions team.

The appeal panel’s decision is final and everyone must accept it.

Under the School Admission Appeals Code 2012, appeals should be heard within 30 school days of the date the appeal is made.

The academic year ends around mid to late July each year (and there is a half-term holiday in late May or early June), so if you make your appeal after the last Monday in May, it may not be considered within that academic year.

We will let you know if this applies to you.

See the appeals section of our admissions e-booklets for more details.

Important note for infant class size limit

By law, reception, year 1 and year 2 classes (also known as Key Stage 1) must not contain more than 30 pupils with a single teacher – this is known as infant class size prejudice.

So for Key Stage 1 classes that already have 30 pupils, the panel should only allow an appeal in exceptional circumstances. As a result of this, Key Stage 1 cases have a very limited chance of being successful.

Appealing for schools outside the borough

If you want to appeal for a place in a school outside Barking and Dagenham, you will need to contact the relevant admissions authority (local authority or school) for more details about how to appeal.