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Most pupils in Monmouthshire are allocated a place at their parents’ first choice of school. If however, it is not possible to allocate a place at the preferred school, an alternative school place will be offered. The parents may appeal against the decision of the admission authority. The appeal will be determined by an independent appeals panel established in accordance with the School Admissions Appeal Code 2013. The panel must consist of three to five members appointed by the Local Authority from the following categories.
- People who are eligible to be lay members (persons without personal experience in the management of a school or the provision of education in any school, disregarding experience as a governor or in any other voluntary capacity).
- People who have experience in education; who are familiar with educational conditions in the LA’s area or who are parents of registered children at a school (other than the school at which the appeal is made).
- Independent appeal panels must consider each case individually on its merits and they cannot limit themselves, in advance, to the admission of any particular number of pupils.
Consideration by an appeal panel should be in two distinct stages:
1. The Factual Stage, where the panel decides as a matter of fact whether there was a lawful reason to refuse admission; if there was not, the child must be admitted; if there was, the committee must move on to:
2. The Balancing Stage. Where the panel exercises its judgement to balance the degree of prejudice to efficient education which would result from admitting the child, and the strength of the parents’ case, and to arrive at a decision which is binding on the admissions authority.
The decision of the appeal panel will be binding on the Local Authority. The decision to appeal does not prevent the parent accepting a place at an alternative school whilst the hearing is convened as the panel will determine the appeal on the basis of application. In the event that your next nearest available school is situated more that 1.5 miles (Primary) or 2 miles (Secondary) from your home address, you would be eligible to make an application for free Home to School Transport.
All appeal hearings are convened by the Clerk to the School Admissions Appeal Panel who will endeavour to arrange all appeal hearings in line with legislative requirements.
Appeals for Voluntary Aided Schools
If you would wish to appeal against the decision to refuse a place for your child to attend a Monmouthshire Voluntary Aided School, you must submit your appeal to the governing body (who are their own admitting authority), who will consider your appeal in line with their agreed admission arrangements.