Last Updated 10/20

You will find a recent news article on the Education Funding Agency and Ombudsman outcomes of complaints about school admissions here.

Complaints about school and academy admission appeals will only be upheld if both: (a) maladministration is found in the process (the Panel or the admission authority has not followed the rules laid down in the School  Admission Appeals Code); and (b) such maladministration may have caused injustice - i.e. a wrong decision. You will not win a complaint if you disagree with the decision of an appeal panel, but have no fault with the process.

Please note that neither organisation will look at complaints about the Kent Headteacher Assessment process or the Medway Review for grammar schools. Any concerns need to be expressed in an appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel for school admission to a specific school.  

There are two organisations which consider complaints about different types of schools. 

All other schools

Complaints about the appeal procedures organised by all other schools should be made to the Local Government Ombudsman (often known as the Education Ombudsman). You will find further information here. 

The Ombudsman can deal with complaints about:

1. Appeals against School School Admission issues  where these have been heard by an Independent Appeal Panel; 
2. Appeals against School School Transport issues where these have been heard by an Independent Appeal Panel;
3. Appeals against Permanent Exclusions where these have been heard by an Independent Appeal Panel;
4. Some Aspects of Special Educational Needs.

The Ombudsman website is at LGO