More than 1,500 parents in Merseyside appealed their child’s school place offer - but only one in six were successful.
There were 1,520 appeals heard in Merseyside in relation to places for September 2020 from parents unhappy with what they had been offered.
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Of those heard, just 17% went in the parent’s favour.
That was even lower than the national average, which saw just 19% of appeals succeed.
Most of the appeals are likely to relate to offers made on National Offer Days for entry to Reception and Year 7, although some will be for children transferring to a different school.
The beginning of March (March 1st) is when offers for secondary school places are sent out, with primary school offers sent out on April 18.
For secondary school places, 1,078 appeals were heard in Merseyside relating to places for September 2020 (the most recent figures available).
Of those heard, 181 were successful, or 17%.
There were 442 appeals heard in relation to primary school places in Merseyside.
Of the appeals that were heard, just 84 - or 19% - were successful.
Applicants can lodge appeals against any school at which they have not been awarded a place, but not all appeals reach the stage of being heard by a panel - some, for example, are withdrawn.
The heard rate is therefore a better measure of the general appeal rate.
Merseyside authorities have given reaction.
Liverpool
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “This year, 90% of children in Liverpool have been allocated a place at one of their preferred schools.
"We try our very best to accommodate parents’ wishes but there are many factors which must be taken into account when allocating places. It is also important to remember that whilst the council administers the process most secondary schools are their own admitting authority and have their own admissions criteria.
"Families moving to Liverpool also add to the demand for school places each year.
"As always, parents have the right to appeal. If parents would like further information about the process, this year there will be an information session, supported by the Liverpool Law Clinic, at the PAL Multicultural Centre, on Mulgrave Street, on Thursday 10 March at 6pm."
Sefton
A Sefton Council spokesperson said: "If a child has been refused a place at a school in Sefton a parent/carer has the right to submit an appeal against the decision to an Independent Appeal Panel in accordance with the appropriate legislation and the School Admission Appeals Code of Practice which can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/schoolappeals.
"We publish school appeals statistics for the previous five years and these are available on the Council website. It’s important to note that the appeals process is different depending upon the type of school and it would be impractical for us to comment on how likely a school place appeal is to succeed in Sefton."
Knowlsey
The ECHO understands that at Knowsley Council the appeals process is independent to the council.
Knowsley has had an increase this year with 95% of pupils securing a named preference in a Knowsley secondary school, which is an increase on last year (93%).
In Knowsley, parents and carers have been advised of the appeals process should they be unhappy with their allocated school place. The process for an appeal is prescribed by Government. A panel hearing an appeal must be independent and have no direct involvement with the individual school, the council or with the process of allocating places.
All panel members in Knowsley will be trained in national admission legislation and at least one panel member will have experience in education delivery. The appeal hearing process is supported by a Clerk, who is responsible for ensuring that the appeal hearing is conducted in accordance with the prescribed process.
In Knowsley the secondary admission authorities are either a Multi Academy Trust or the Archdiocese.
Given that primary offer day is not until Tuesday, 19 April Knowsley Council is not able to comment on primary admissions for 2022/23 at this time, the ECHO was informed by Knowsley Council.
St Helens
A St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: "The vast majority of parents in St Helens Borough were offered their first preference school for September 2020; 95% secondary and 93% primary. We work hard with our schools to maintain such high percentage rates, which are typical for local families every year.
"As a result of the above, the number of school appeals are small. It is also important to note that the appeal panels are independent bodies and that each appeal is considered on its own merits and in accordance with the provisions of the School Admissions Appeals Code, therefore the percentage of successful appeals will differ each year.
Wirral Council was approached for comment.
