We are a family from Tamworth, devastated by a school appeals system that has failed our daughter and countless others.

We submitted a strong appeal to get our daughter into the school that best meets her academic and emotional needs. We provided evidence that key subjects were not available elsewhere and shared her personal struggles and how she would suffer if placed in a different environment.

Still, our appeal was rejected.

We were told — as were many other families — by the headteacher that if we selected the school as our first choice, our child would guaranteed a place. That promise was broken.

The appeals process itself was cold, confusing, and distressing. We were given no guidance on how to present our case, no idea what would be considered relevant, and then forced to wait up to five days in silence for a decision — a decision that left our daughter in tears and our family in despair.

What shocked us most was that the clerk overseeing the appeal undermined our case by closing the hearing with the words:
"I am sure your daughter will flourish whatever school she goes to."

That comment erased everything we had just shared, and cast doubt on the validity of our appeal. The final words were supposed to be ours — not theirs.

This system is broken. It lacks compassion, transparency, and accountability. Children’s futures are being decided in rooms where parents are made to feel powerless and misled.

We’re calling on the Department for Education and Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson to:

Launch an urgent review of the secondary school appeals process
Ensure proper training and neutrality for appeal clerks and panels
Provide clear, consistent guidance to families about appeals
Hold schools accountable for misleading application advice
Include emotional well-being and subject access in all decisions
It’s too late for our daughter, but we won’t let another child go through this.

Please sign and share this petition to demand a fair, compassionate, and transparent school appeals system.