Appeals Secretariat

The Appeals Secretariat, based at County Hall in Worcester, make arrangements for appeals where the Admission Authority (AA) has not met a parent's preference for a particular school. The Appeals Secretariat also deals with appeals where a pupil has been excluded from a school on a permanent basis.

The Appeals Secretariat is separate from the education functions of the County Council and as much as they may want to help, cannot answer questions about the initial allocation of school places, school waiting lists, transport allocation or any of the day-to-day school questions.

All requests for appeals should be made to the School Admissions Team, either in writing to :- School Admissions Team, Children's Services Directorate, PO Box 73 Worcester, WR5 2YA or by email:- schooladmissions@worcestershire.gov.uk or to the school involved if that school is an Academy or Foundation School or where the school has voluntary aided status.

In addition to school appeals, the Secretariat also makes the administrative arrangements for hearings convened as part of the Council's Representations Procedures (Social Services Review Panels and Corporate Representations Panels).

In respect of all appeals hearings, the Secretariat is responsible for recruiting and maintaining a list of persons who serve on Appeals Panels. At panel meetings, staff from the Appeals Secretariat act as usher, adviser and facilitator, remaining with the Panel when they come to make their decisions. After the Appeal hearing, these staff also make sure all parties know what decisions have been made.

A number of guidance leaflets giving further information about the appeals process have been produced.

• Admission to schools in Worcestershire - parents' guide to the appeals process.  (85 KB)    
• Admission to Schools in Worcestershire - parents' guide to the appeals process - pupils in infant classes where "infant class size prejudice" rules apply.  (49 KB)   
• Admission to schools - Independent Advice  (8KB)

The Appeals Secretariat also produce an appeals timetable

• School Appeals Timetable 2012  (57 KB)

Parents can also contact the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE), which is an independent national advice centre.  They offer free telephone advice on many subjects, including exclusion from school, bullying, special educational needs and school admission appeals.

• ACE General advice line: Freephone 0808 800 5793
• ACE Website: http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/
• ACE Exclusion information line: 020 7704 9822