Appeals

Bishopshalt is one of the most oversubscribed schools in the borough and we understand that families may feel disappointed if they are not offered a place at their preferred school. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your application, you have the right to appeal against that decision.

Appealing against the decision not to offer a child a school place is a judicial function. All appeals will be heard by an independent appeal panel and not by the School itself. The panel must act impartially and transparently when considering each case and its decisions are binding on the admission authority and the appellant, unless overturned by the courts.

The appeal panel will consist of at least three members and will consider the case put forward by both the parent (the appellant) and the admission authority (Bishopshalt School) before reaching an independent decision about whether a place should be offered.

Appeals are conducted in accordance with the statutory School Admissions Appeals Code. In most cases involving oversubscribed schools such as Bishopshalt, the panel will consider two main questions:

Whether the school’s published admission arrangements comply with the law and were correctly applied in your child’s case.
If the arrangements were correctly applied, the panel will consider the reasons you have given for wanting a place at Bishopshalt School and will balance these against the school’s case that admitting additional pupils may cause prejudice to the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources.

When submitting an appeal, you should clearly explain the reasons why you believe your child should be offered a place at the school. You may include any information or supporting evidence you would like the panel to consider.

Accepting a place at another school does not affect your right to appeal for a place at Bishopshalt.  If you have been offered a place at another school, we advise that you accept it while your appeal is being considered. Accepting another place will not affect your appeal.

The admissions criteria used to assess applications are set out in the school’s Admissions Policy, which can be found in the Key Information section of this website. Applications are considered strictly in accordance with the published criteria.

Please note - accepting a place at another school does not affect your right to appeal for a place at Bishopshalt.  If you have been offered a place at another school to start in Sept 2027, we advise that you accept it while your appeal is being considered.  Accepting another place will not affect your appeal.

The admissions criteria used to assess applications are set out in the school’s Admissions Policy, which can be found in the Key Information section of this website. Applications are considered strictly in accordance with the published criteria. The Published Admission Number (PAN) for Bishopshalt School is 186 places per year group in Years 7–11.

The deadline for requesting the appeal paperwork for Year 7 Sept 2027 applications is to be confirmed (TBC).  Appeal documentation should be requested by emailing the school at admissions@bishopshalt.school.

Deadline for requesting the appeal paperwork for Year 7 Sept 2027 applications:

Appeals must be made in writing, setting out your grounds for appeal. The Appeal paperwork should be requested from the School (admissions@bishopshalt.school) and will be sent to you by Clerk to the Governors. The dealine for requesting appeal paperwork for Sept 2027 entry is TBC.

Deadline for submitting completed appeal paperwork:

TBC. 

Date appeals to be heard:

The Appeal Panel will meet and hold the Appeal Hearing approximately 40 school days after the deadline for lodging Appeals. 

Notice of Appeal Hearing:

You will be given at least 10 school days notice of the Hearing date.

Submission and Exchange of all paperwork:

All evidence and paperwork must be submitted at least 10 school days before the appeal hearing date.

Late/further evidence can be submitted up to five school days before the appeal hearing date, however, if submitted later the documents may NOT be accepted by the panel.

Date for late application appeal hearings:

Any late school admission appeals made due to extenuating reasons and after the dates above will be considered, but these late appeals may not be heard until after the start of the new academic year in September.

Timescale for the appeal hearing decision:

The clerk to the independent appeals panel will aim to post letters outlining your appeal hearing decision within 5 school days of the end of the hearings. This timescale is subject to the volume of appeals, circumstances and conditions.

Parents are strongly encouraged to meet all deadlines as delays may cause unnecessary disruption and complications.

If you apply for a place at Bishopshalt during the academic school year and your application is refused, you have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel. The panel is independent of the school and the admission authority, and its decision is binding on both the admissions authority (Bishopshalt) and the applicant.

How to lodge an appeal:

Appeals must be made in writing, setting out your grounds and supplying any evidence you wish for the panel to consider in support of your appeal . The Appeal paperwork should be requested from the School (admissions@bishopshalt.school) and will be sent to you by Clerk to the Governors. 

When your appeal will be heard:

In line with the School Admission Appeals Code 2022, in-year appeals will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.

You will receive at least 10 school days’ notice of the date, time and format of the hearing, unless you agree to a shorter notice period. Any additional evidence you wish the panel to consider should be submitted at least 5 school days before the hearing takes place.  If it is received after this time, the panel may decide that the evidence cannot be submitted.

After the hearing:

The panel’s decision, and the reasons for it, will be sent to you in writing, wherever possible within 5 school days of the hearing.

If you have been offered a place at another school, we advise that you accept it while your appeal is being considered. Accepting another place will not affect your appeal.