Admission appeals

Appeal hearings for community primary schools

Hillingdon Council is the admission authority for all community primary schools in Hillingdon and is responsible for arranging and hosting the appeal hearings for these schools.

Before appealing a school place

When considering whether to appeal, it is important you are aware that:

• although the law allows you to have the opportunity to appeal against admission decisions, it does not give your child the right to a place at a particular school
• there is no guarantee that your appeal will be successful; therefore, if you are appealing for a place at a particular school, you should make arrangements for a place at an alternative school in case your appeal is unsuccessful
• accepting a place at another school does not affect your right to appeal for a place at the school you would prefer. 

Timetable for organising and hearing community school appeals

Please note: Own-admission authority schools (academies, foundation, voluntary aided) will publish their own appeals timetables.

Flexibility will be given for panel hearings to take place either in person, by telephone, video conference or through a paper-based appeal where all parties can make representations in writing. 

Decision letters will be sent within 7 school days of the hearing, wherever possible. 

Appeals when an infant class already has 30 pupils

The law states that there must be no more than 30 pupils in an infant class (reception, year 1 and year 2). Therefore, in the case of most appeals for infant schools, an appeals panel can only allow more children into a class if they decide that either the:

• admission arrangements did not comply with admissions law and the child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had complied
• admission arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied and the child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had been correctly and impartially applied
• decision to refuse admission was not one that a reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.

Appeals when a class has fewer than 30 pupils or a junior or secondary school place

If an appeal is heard for an infant class that has fewer than 30 pupils, or for a class in the junior or secondary phases of education, the appeal panel will allow an appeal if they decide that either the:

• admission arrangements did not comply with admissions law and the child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had complied
• admission arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied and the child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had been correctly and impartially applied
• admission of additional children would not prejudice the provision of efficient education or efficient use of resources.

How to appeal

If you wish to request an appeal for a community school, ensure you have read our  School admission appeals guidance for parents (PDF, 243 KB), which explains your rights regarding admission to schools. Then email our school placement and admissions team at admissions@hillingdon.gov.uk to request the appeal paperwork.

If you wish to appeal for any school that isn't a community school, please contact the school directly.

If you would like to contact an admissions appeals officer about your case, please email admissions@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Outcomes of appeals heard for community schools in 2023/24

This data includes appeals heard for starting reception 2024.

Useful websites and information

• Advisory Centre for Education 
• Coram Children's Legal Centre
• School admissions code