This is a Fact sheet about School Admissions and Appeals complaints. It should be read together with our general information available here.
Complaints about school admissions should be brought to the attention of the relevant Local Education Authority (LEA) first, but complaints about admission appeals can be brought straight to the Ombudsman.
He can:
If you wish to complain to the Ombudsman, please do so as soon as possible.
He cannot:
LEAs and Admission Appeal Panels must have regard to the Statutory Codes on School Admissions and Appeals. Copies may be downloaded from the Welsh Government
website
https://gov.wales/school-admissions-code
https://gov.wales/school-admission-appeals-code
The Ombudsman is independent and impartial; he cannot order public bodies to do what he recommends – but, in practice, they almost always do. Examples of cases that the Ombudsman has looked at can be found on our website. Please see www.ombudsman.wales/
If you are unsure whether the Ombudsman would be able to look into your complaint, please contact us.
Also available in Welsh.