School admission appeals

Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on school admission appeals

The government has issued new legislation and Regulations around how school admission appeals will now be conducted, called the School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

Part of the new Regulations disapply the requirement that appeals panels must be held in person and instead give flexibility for panel hearings to take place either by video conference, telephone or through a paper-based appeal where all parties can make representations in writing.

The Regulations also stipulate that appeals cannot be delayed or postponed until they can be heard face-to-face. As a result, Devon’s Independent Appeals Panel Service will be conducting appeals via video conferencing facilities.

Full details and additional guidance leaflets for parents can be found on the How to appeal section of the guide to school admission appeals.

All parents that have already submitted an appeal for either primary or secondary schools have also been contacted separately.

Please read our guide to school admission appeals for information about the appeals process and to help you decide whether or not an appeal is appropriate.

Once you have read our guide and decided that you would like to proceed with an appeal, please complete the online admissions appeal form.