Latest data shows drop in admission appeals

The Department for Education has published its admission appeals data, covering appeals at the start of the 2024/2025 academic year. In primary schools, 8,999 appeals were heard, 17.7% of which were successful. In secondary schools, 29,640 appeals were heard with a 19.9% success rate. This continues a trend of secondary appeals being less successful over time.

Interestingly, the trends show a downward trajectory both in terms of the number of admission appeals, and the number of successful appeals. The decrease in admission appeals is in some ways surprising, given the increased tenacity which we have seen parents demonstrating when it comes to matters such as parental complaints and management of behaviour issues. With the increase in children with EHCP’s being placed in maintained schools, we are seeing schools begin to face capacity challenges. Where a school is oversubscribed, admissions criteria are used to help allocate places. However, any child whose EHCP names the school must be admitted before any oversubscription criteria are applied.

Admission authorities must set admissions criteria, and comply with their policy, to ensure that they are well protected in the event of an admission appeal. For academies, foundation schools, and voluntary aided schools, this is particularly pertinent given that the local authority does not act as their admission authority. They should be cautious to comply with the School Admissions Code in setting their admissions criteria, and with the School Admissions Appeals Code when managing appeals.

We can support schools to prepare their admission policies and to manage admission appeals.