Admission appeals

Your right to appeal 

You have the right to appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at a preferred school.

When deciding whether to appeal, accepting a place at another school will not affect your right to appeal for a place at your preferred schools. It will not affect your child’s place on the waiting list either.

We strongly advise you to make arrangements for a place at an alternative school in case your appeal is not successful.

If you want to appeal for a place at a Southwark secondary school or a school in another borough, contact the school or borough council directly for information.

Each school can explain how to appeal and send you a copy of their own appeal form.

Community (maintained) primary schools

All appeal forms for community (maintained) schools must be completed and returned by email to: schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk.

It’s a good idea to read our school admission appeals guide.

You’ll need to fill in and send us a community primary school admissions appeal form.

Independent appeal panels deals with all appeals. The hearing will be assessed by an independent appeals clerk.

Appeals are heard in June and July as places may have become vacant by then.

You can attend the hearing.

Making appeals for other schools

To make an appeal for non-community primary schools, secondary schools and schools in another council area, you should contact the individual schools. 

They will explain how you can appeal and send you a copy of their own appeal form.

If the school is not in Southwark, contact the council the school is in.

Useful information

• The Department for Education’s school admission appeals code.
• How to appeal if you’re making an in-year application.

Contact us

You can contact us by:

• calling 020 7525 5337
• emailing schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk