Latest News - March 2009

School Admission Decisions 2009

Many parents whose children are due to start a new school in September will learn in the first week of March which school has offered them a place.  There has been an increase in competition for places at good schools this year, and it is estimated that as many as one in 5 children will not get a place at their first choice of school.  A recent survey for the Guardian newspaper showed that in some areas, as many as 40% of all children will fail to get their first choice.  For some parents and children this poses no real problem, as they will have received an offer of a place at a perfectly acceptable school.

However for many of you, the school offered may be extremely problematic, either because of practical considerations which have not been taken into account, or because of the way your child may react to being in that particular school.

We have over 15 years experience in handling admission appeals, and can deal with all aspects for you, including advice on your chances of success, the best arguments to support your case, drafting your appeal for you and representing at Tribunal.  While no solicitor or organisation can guarantee success, we can at least ensure that the best arguments are put, and increase your chances in this all-important decision.

As specialist education lawyers, we are also best placed to advise you about the availability of school transport or if the admission process is flawed in any way .  This is an increasing problem as the Schools adjudicator appointed by the  Department for Children Schools and Families recently admitted that nearly half of all  schools were not following the compulsory admissions code correctly.   These are important issues which need legal advice to help you secure a fair decision.  

Click here to view our Admission Appeals Charges.

To find out more about how we can help you, please contact Maxwell Gillott Solicitors.