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"One of the most successful ways to win an appeal is to prove that the published admission criteria have not been followed by the admission authority. Often a number of admission authorities have not adhered to their own admission arrangements, which is a clear breach of the codes issued by the government." John Chard, author

Make sure that your school appeal is a success.

Every year 100,000 concerned parents lodge an appeal against the admission authority that has refused their child a place at the school of their choice. Unfortunately, two out of every three school appeals are unsuccessful. If you need to know what you can do to make sure that you win your appeal, then Your School Your Choice will help you understand the secrets behind successful appeals, the laws governing appeals and the admission authority's appeal process.

With so much variation in the quality of schooling in the UK, securing a place for your child at a good school is vital for their future. This book explains exactly what parental choice means and on what grounds schools can, and cannot, offer places to children. This information is crucial to making a successful appeal.

This book takes the reader through the different admission procedures of England, Wales and Scotland, and it explains how you can increase your chances of getting a place for your child. It also details how you can use the statutory appeal process, if you don't get a place first time round. Written by John Chard, who has organised over 2,000 school appeals in the last ten years and provided training for appeal panel members, this book is a must for any parent wanting the most up-to-date information on gaining a place at their selected school for their child.


About the author

John Chard has over ten years' experience of organising and clerking appeals for local government. He has also been responsible for training appeal panel members for the last six years and he regularly lectures on admission arrangements and appeals procedures all over the country. John has also worked closely with parents going through the appeals process since 2002 when he established his consultancy service School Appeals (www.schoolappeals.org.uk).

• Applying for a place at a school of your choice
• Schools' admission criteria
• Admissions during the school year
• The statutory appeal process
• Normal prejudice appeals
• Infant class size appeals
• Selective schools and sixth form appeals
• Preparing your case
• What to do if your appeal is unsuccessful
• Choosing a school in Scotland
• Scotland: The LEA's response to your request
• Scotland: How to appeal
• Choosing a school in Wales
• Wales: How to appeal
• Example appeal statements and case studies