The school appeals process

There is advice available regarding the appeals process from the Department for Education.

View the School Admission Appeals Code 2022.

The code allows appeal hearings to be held remotely by video calls. All appeals take place using Microsoft Teams. You can access this from a mobile telephone, tablet, laptop or any device that can access the internet using a browser.

Once your submitted appeal has been processed and scheduled, and at least 10 days before the appeal hearing, you will receive an email from the School Appeals Team (part of our Legal and Governance Department). The email will tell you the date and time of the appeal. A copy of the school statement and guidance on the appeals process will be included. It is important that you read this information before your appeal hearing.

If you need an interpreter, you can respond to the email to request one free of change and tell us the language you speak.

You will also be sent an electronic invitation with a link to join to the meeting.

All emails about your hearing will come from edappealsadmin@birmingham.gov.uk. Look out for messages from this address. Check your junk/spam and deleted folders regularly to ensure you do not miss any emails.

If you need to contact the School Admissions and Fair Access Service or the School Appeals Team about your appeal, use email wherever possible.

If you have any questions, email the School Admissions and Fair Access Service at Admissions@birmingham.gov.uk or phone 0121 303 1888.

Papers for appeals

Our School Appeals Team will email you all the appeal papers as soon as possible before the hearing. This will include a copy of the written statement explaining the reasons and setting out the case for refusing admission at the particular school or academy.

Submit additional information

Before the hearing, you will be able to submit additional information to support your appeal using our online form.

If you submit additional information on the day of the hearing, the independent appeal panel will decide whether to consider it, taking into account its significance.

Find out how you can support the school admissions appeal process

There are voluntary opportunities to become an Independent School Appeal Panel member.

Find out more about volunteering for this role.

Page last updated: 17 April 2026