Please note this information is for all community and voluntary controlled schools in Surrey and some of those foundation, trust and voluntary aided schools, free schools and academies that we organise appeals for.
It is important that you return your completed form within the time period or closing date specified, in order for your appeal to be heard in the first round of appeals. Please see the Directory of Surrey schools how to obtain the relevant appeal form and for details of the closing date for lodging your appeal. We would also advise you to lodge your appeal as soon as possible to minimise any delay.
You should complete one form per child, per school.
- What information you should provide
- Submitting your information
- Can I know why previous appeals were upheld for my preferred school?
- Can I withdraw my appeal?
- What happens if my ex-partner wants a copy of the paperwork/detailed decision letter?
What information you should provide
Your case
Your appeal form will be an important part of your case and you need to fill it in as fully and carefully as possible. The appeal panel will be sent a copy of this before the hearing.
Please ensure you complete all the boxes on the notice of appeal form and read the appropriate guidelines below:
- Completing your school admissions appeal form - Key Stage 1, or
- Completing your school admissions appeal form - Key Stage 2 and 3.
and read our webpage: How the appeal panel makes its decision.
You are responsible for presenting your case and for deciding what written information you want the appeal panel to have and what you would like to say at the hearing.
Your appeal form, when first submitted, must contain the written grounds of your appeal, in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code.
You must include at least a brief summary of your case. It can be supplemented by additional evidence and information at a later date.
Any appeal form received without any grounds of appeal will not be considered to have been lodged properly and will be returned to you.
Any information or evidence received after the deadline or submitted on the day, written or electronic, might not be considered at the appeal hearing.
Firstly, it is really important that you complete all sections of the appeal form and make sure that the details you supply are correct.
It is for you to decide what information and documents you wish to include in your case. However, if your appeal is based on medical grounds, you should, where possible, provide written evidence from a medical practitioner to support this. If your case is based on a house move you should provide official confirmation of your new address.
The Appeal Panel will not contact people on your behalf, for example; if you want the Appeal Panel to see a medical report or consider the views of a Social Worker or a previous teacher you will need to get that information yourself and submit it as part of your appeal.
Please do not submit original documents that you wish to keep as all the information and documents you submit as part of your appeal will be retained.
If you submit information or photographs that include other children please make sure that you have parental approval and that you are not in breach of any data protection rights.
Information that you submit will need to be photocopied so it can be submitted to the Appeal Panel. It is your responsibility to ensure that any documentation you are submitting is clear and can be easily copied. All appeal papers are copied in black and white. If you wish to submit information in colour you will need to supply seven copies.
Submission of evidence
When you first submit your appeal form, it must contain the written grounds of your appeal. However, you might find that you wish to submit additional evidence and information at a later date.
Supporting information or additional evidence must be received by 5pm on the evidence deadline date. The evidence deadline will be clearly highlighted in your appeal notification letter and again when you are sent your appeal pack. The evidence deadline cannot be changed.
Any information received after the stated evidence deadline might not be considered as part of your case or the Appeal Panel may adjourn your appeal hearing. It will be the Appeal Panel's decision whether or not it should accept any late information.
If you are considering submitting digital evidence please take into account that a copy of this must be supplied in an accessible format that can be kept as part of the official record. At your appeal hearing you will be responsible for supplying a laptop etc for showing any digital information to all parties at the appeal hearing.
If you decide to submit information using email, please ensure that your attachments are in either PDF form or Microsoft Office compatible.
It is not permissible to include any letters of support from representatives of the school you are appealing for. Such support can create conflicts of interest and unfairness to other appellants.
Can I know why previous appeals were upheld for my preferred school?
Previous decisions on school admission appeals do not set precedents so no-one can predict whether your appeal will be successful or not. In addition, school admission appeals are confidential so you cannot ask to see copies of previous appeals or know why other appeals were successful. Your appeal will be considered on your own individual circumstances.
Can I withdraw my appeal?
If you have changed your mind and no longer wish to go ahead with your appeal, you will need to contact the Surrey Schools Appeals Service.
What happens if my ex-partner wants a copy of the paperwork/detailed decision letter?
All correspondence is sent to the named appellant who has completed the notice of appeal form for their child. However, where an estranged partner, with parental responsibility/rights, requires a copy of any of the appeal paperwork, including the detailed decision letter, we would first inform you, as the appellant. Please note that we cannot refuse to send information regarding your child to an ex-partner who is a parent of that child and has parental rights. We can, however, exclude any information regarding yourself if you wish.
