Children's Services

Choice Advice Useful Links

For Hampshire County Council Information:

Useful external links:

Making decisions and applying for a school place

The Directgov website offers guidance and support in navigating the current school admissions service, explaining in detail the schools admissions process, when to apply, you child's legal rights and your rights as a parent.

Information about 'Choosing a School' is available from the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE).

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) information booklet 'Applying for a School' PDF

Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS), funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) providing information and support to service families and eligible MOD civilians on all aspects of the education of children in the UK and overseas.

Appealing for a school place

If you are not offered a place at your preferred school or if you are unhappy with the school place allocated to your child, for whatever reason, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel. The following websites outline the school admissions and appeals process: what parents can expect from the admissions system, how to object to unlawful arrangements, and how to find further information and support.

Primary and Secondary School Admissions and Appeals: A Guide for Parents PDF

Appealing for a School: A practical guide to parents' legal rights from the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)

Know your rights

If you think that an admission authority has unlawful admission arrangements you can object to the Schools Adjudicator. You can make the objection yourself or contact the School Admissions Team to object on your behalf. Information about what you can object to and the form you will need to complete are available on the Office of the Schools Adjudicator Website

Making a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman

You will be able to make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman if there is evidence that a school place has been refused because of some unfairness or mistake by the admissions authority and/or if a schools admissions appeal has been handled incorrectly.

The Ombudsman looks into school admission complaints about injustice caused by administrative fault, however, the Ombudsman is not another level of appeal and cannot question decisions taken by the admissions authority or an appeal panel if they were taken properly and fairly, without administrative fault.

Relevant Legislation

The School Admissions Code Download Acrobat Reader to view this PDF 803kb

The School Admission Appeals Code PDF