900 parents appealed school place offers, with only 12% successful

MORE than 900 parents in Leicestershire went on to appeal their child’s school place offer - but only one in eight were successful.

There were 908 appeals heard in Leicestershire, in relation to places for September 2020, from parents unhappy with what they had been offered.

Of those heard, just 12 per cent went in the parent’s favour.

That was even lower than the national average, which saw just 19 per cent of appeals succeed.

Most of the appeals are likely to relate to offers made on National Offer

Days for entry to Reception and Year Seven, although some will be for children transferring to a different school.

March 1 was when offers for secondary school places were sent out, with primary school offers sent out on April 18.

For secondary school places, 604 appeals were heard in Leicestershire relating to places for September 2020 (the most recent figures available).

Of those heard, 81 were successful, or 13 per cent.

There were 304 appeals heard in relation to primary school places in Leicestershire.

Of the appeals heard, just 24

8 per cent - were successful. - or

Applicants can lodge appeals against any school at which they have not been awarded a place, but not all appeals reach the stage of being heard by a panel - some, for example, are withdrawn.

The heard rate is therefore a better measure of the general appeal rate.

The number of appeals being lodged and heard has been falling in England - and they’re less likely to be successful.

There were 11,239 appeals heard in relation to primary places starting in September 2020 in England.

That compares with 12,465 the previous year, according to the figures published by the Department for Education.

The number has fallen from 22,820 in 2015.

Across England, 1,823 appeals went in the parent’s favour, a success rate of 16 per cent.

That was the lowest proportion since figures began in 2015.

At secondary level, 29,871 appeals were heard in relation to September 2020 places.

That was down from 35,648 the year before, although numbers are still up in comparison to 22,964 in 2015 and 25,290 in 2016.

The success rate was 20 per cent, down from 22 per cent for appeals relating to September 2019 starts, and the lowest level recorded in the time series, which goes back to 2004.