Since 1980, education legislation has given parents the right to say which school they would prefer their child to go to. It does not give them the right to 'choose' a school.
The local authority must give a child a place at the parents' preferred school unless this would make it difficult for the school to provide effective education or to use resources efficiently.
All the available places in the relevant year group at your preferred school are allocated (distributed) in line with the local authority's published conditions (admission criteria).
However, an Appeal Panel can say that a school that is full must accept a pupil, even if it agrees that this would make it difficult for that school to provide effective education or to use resources efficiently.
The Appeal Panel's decision is final and both the Local Education Authority and parents and carers must accept it.
By law, children aged between the 5 and 16 must be receiving an education. As a result your child should be going to school while you are appealing for a place at your preferred school.
Who sits on the Appeal Panel?|
When will my appeal be heard?|
What is class size prejudice?|
Admissions Officer - Appeals
Admissions and Attendance Team
Morline House
160 London Road
Barking
IG11 8BB
Tel: 020 8227 3146
Fax: 020 8227 3439
Email: admissions@lbbd.gov.uk|
Guide for parents on school admissions and appeals|
The guide, published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, outlines the school admissions and appeals processes: what parents can expect from the admissions system, how to object to unlawful arrangements and how to find further information and support.
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470