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St Cecilia Catholic

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Appeals

Appeals

Appeals

Parents with unsuccessful applications for Reception in September 2025 may:

  • apply to go on our waiting list (please contact your local authority)

  • appeal against our decision, notify us within 20 days of receiving the notification (please contact admissions@stcecilias.school) 

  • complete an appeals form - we will send this to you along with details of the appeal process and how you can submit additional evidence.

  • the closing date for appeals is 15 May 2025.

  • we will provide at least 10 school days notice of your appeal hearing.

  • those making an appeal can submit additional evidence before their appeal hearing. We will notify you of the closing date for additional paperwork when we send the appeals form.

  • additional paperwork must be received by this date so that it is received by the independent appeals committee in time for the appeal hearing. 

Infant Class Sizes are limited to 30 by law

Please note that we have Reception Classes of 30 and will fill each class fully in the usual admission round.  Unsuccessful applications are usually because of this limit on class sizes to 30.  Appeals against admission are therefore 'infant class size appeals.'

The School Admission Appeals Code asks Admission Authorities to advise parents of the limited grounds for such appeals to be upheld.

An Independent Appeal Panel can only uphold an ‘infant class size’ appeal where it is satisfied that:

  1. The admission of additional children would not breach the infant class size limit of 30; or
  2. The admission arrangements did not comply with admissions law or were not correctly and impartially applied, and your child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had complied or had been correctly and impartially applied; or 
  3. It decides that the decision to refuse admission was not one that a reasonable Admissions Authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.

The legislation states that certain children from specific categories may be admitted as exceptions to the infant class size limit set, but this is only in very exceptional circumstances.

Grounds for appeal in infant class size appeals

In order to have your appeal upheld and gain a place for your child, you will need to be able to demonstrate that either:

A: There has been an error made in the processing of your child’s application

and/or

B: That the process does not comply to the requirements of the School Admissions Code

and/or

C: That the decision made to refuse your child a place is not one that a reasonable Admission Authority would make in the circumstances of the case.

At St. Cecilia's Catholic Primary School, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in all circumstances and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To read more about our commitment to safeguarding please view our safeguarding policy.