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Appeals for Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire

Following the review of local Government in Bedfordshire, from 1 April 2009 the school admission appeals service is the  responsibility of two new unitary authorities.  These are Bedford Borough Council, which will be responsible for all schools in the Bedford Borough area, and Central Bedfordshire which will have responsibility for all schools in the former Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire District areas.  However to minimise any disruption in relation to both the 2009 and September 2010 school admissions, the two authorities have agreed that the school admission appeals service should be a joint service to be hosted by Bedford Borough Council.

The arrangements relating to school admission appeals covering the Bedford and the Central Bedfordshire areas are accordingly set out below.

Admission Appeals for all Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools in the Bedford and the Central Bedfordshire areas are arranged by the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at Bedford Borough Council. The Clerk also arranges and clerks appeals for several Foundation and Voluntary Aided Schools in the area indicated.

 

If you would like more information about the admission appeals process please see the  Admission Appeals Guidance  (PDF opens in new window) leaflet.  You can also contact the Office of the Clerk to the Appeal Panel on (01234) 228523 or by email School.Appeals@bedford.gov.uk if you have any questions or concerns.

 

The School Admissions Service covering the Bedford Borough Council and the Central Bedfordshire Council areas can provide you with advice on the admissions process and can let you know which schools in these areas have places available. They can be contacted on (01234) 718120 or by email admissions@bedford.gov.uk

 

Appeal statistics

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) collects information from all Local Authorities about appeals each academic year.

These figures are provided as part of the Department’s Survey of Admission Appeals for all Community and Voluntary Controlled schools.  The data for Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools are derived from School Census returns made by schools to the DCSF each year.

For further  information please go the DCSF website http://www.dcsf.gov.uk  (opens in new window)

 

Transfer to Upper School 2010

Parents of children due to transfer to Upper School (Year 9) in September 2010 will be sent a letter on 1 March 2010 advising them of the school at which a place has been offered.

 

You can appeal against this decision if you have not been allocated a place at one of the schools you applied for.  You can appeal at each school at which you have been refused admission.  You an also accept a place at one school and appeal for another school that your child would rather go to.

Your appeal must be received by 23 March 2010.  If your appeal is received after this date it might not be possible to hear your appeal.  If you would like to appeal online please use the Transfer to Upper School online appeal form below.

Miss Tracey Johnston will email you to confirm that your appeal has been received and will write to you after 23 March 2010 to tell you the date and time of your appeal.  We aim to hear all Transfer to Upper School appeal by the 6th July 2010.  You will be given at least two weeks notice of your appeal.

The School Admissions Service can tell you about other schools with places and Miss Johnston can explain the appeal procedure to you.

School Admissions Service – (01234) 228878 or
email admissions@bedford.gov.uk

If you have any questions please contact Tracey Johnston - (01234) 228523 or email Tracey.Johnston@bedford.gov.uk

Transfer to Upper School 2010 - Appeal Form (form opens in new window)

Schools Admission Appeals Guidance (pdf document opens in new window)

 

Transfer to Middle School 2010

You can appeal against this decision if you have not been allocated a place at one of the schools you applied for.  You can appeal at each school at which you have been refused admission.  You an also accept a place at one school and appeal for another school that your child would rather go to.

Your appeal must be received by 23 April 2010.  If your appeal is received after this date it might not be possible to hear your appeal.  If you would like to appeal online please use the Transfer to Upper School online appeal form below.

Miss Tracey Johnston will email you to confirm that your appeal has been received and will write to you after 23 April 2010 to tell you the date and time of your appeal.  We aim to hear all Transfer to Middle School appeal by the 6th July 2010.  You will be given at least two weeks notice of your appeal.

The School Admissions Service can tell you about other schools with places and Miss Johnston can explain the appeal procedure to you.

School Admissions Service – (01234) 228878 or
email admissions@bedford.gov.uk

If you have any questions please contact Tracey Johnston - (01234) 228523 or email Tracey.Johnston@bedford.gov.uk

 

Transfer to Middle School 2010 - Appeal form (form opens in new window)

Schools Admission Appeals Guidance (pdf document opens in new window)

 

First Admission to Lower School Appeals 2010

You can appeal against this decision if you have not been allocated a place at one of the schools you applied for.  You can appeal at each school at which you have been refused admission.  You an also accept a place at one school and appeal for another school that your child would rather go to.

Your appeal must be received by 28 May 2010.  If your appeal is received after this date it might not be possible to hear your appeal.  If you would like to appeal online please use the Transfer to Lower School online appeal form below.

Miss Tracey Johnston will email you to confirm that your appeal has been received and will write to you after 28 May 2010 to tell you the date and time of your appeal.  We aim to hear all Lower School appeals by the end of the summer term 2010.  You will be given at least two weeks notice of your appeal.

The School Admissions Service can tell you about other schools with places and Miss Johnston can explain the appeal procedure to you.

School Admissions Service – (01234) 228878 or
email admissions@bedford.gov.uk

If you have any questions please contact Tracey Johnston - (01234) 228523 or email Tracey.Johnston@bedford.gov.uk

 

First Admission to Lower School 2010 -  Appeal Form (form opens in new window)

Schools Admission Appeals Guidance (pdf document opens in new window)

 

All other applications

If you have applied for a place in a year other than in the intake year (when children would normally start Lower, Middle or Upper School) and have not been offered a place, you can appeal against this decision. You will have been sent a letter advising you that a place can not be offered at your preferred school(s). This letter will also tell you when we must receive your appeal by. If your appeal form is received later than the date given in this letter it may not be possible to hear your appeal.

The clerk will contact you to confirm that your appeal has been received and will write to you in due course letting you know the date, time and venue of your appeal. You will be given at least 2 weeks notice of your appeal. We aim to hear all appeals within 30 school days. 

If you would like to discuss other schools with vacancies please contact the School Admission Service on (01234) 718120 or by emailing admissions@bedford.gov.uk  

 

In Year Appeal Form  (form opens in new window)

Schools Admission Appeals Guidance (pdf document opens in new window)

 

Appeal Online

You are welcome to lodge your appeal online. You can only appeal if you have applied for a place at a school and have not been allocated a place at your preferred school(s). The letter advising you that you have not been allocated a place at your preferred school(s) will tell you when we must receive your appeal by.

To appeal online please select the relevant form and fill it in.  If you need any advice please call (01234) 228523 or email School.Appeals@bedford.gov.uk

In Year Appeal Form  (form opens in new window)

 

Appeals against permanent exclusion

You can appeal against a schools decision to permanently exclude your child. The Governing Body will meet within fifteen school days of the exclusion and if they do not over-turn the permanent exclusion you can appeal to the Independent Appeal Panel. The Independent Appeals are arranged and clerked by Committee Services in Bedford Borough Council.

If you would like more information about appeals against permanent exclusion please see the Permanent Exclusion Guidance Leaflet. You can also contact the Office of the Clerk to the Appeal Panel on (01234) 228523 or by email School.Appeals@bedford.gov.uk if you have any questions or concerns.

 

The Inclusion Support Officers can also provide you with advice on the exclusion process, for more information please contact:

Contact for schools in Bedford Borough area :

David Roberts (01234) 408453 or email David.Roberts@bedford.gov.uk
 
Contact for schools in Central Bedfordshire  area :

Sheila Mulvenney (0300 300 688) or email sheila.mulvenney@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Amber Reynolds (0300 300 6924) or email amber.reynolds@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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