Out of Area applications – Review and Appeals process
Review and Appeal processes are available for out of area applicants who have not been offered a place at their preferred school. Enrolment decisions are assessed against enrolment criteria. For more information on enrolment criteria, see:
- Enrolling in kindergarten to year 12
- Enrolling in preschool
- Enrolling in an Early Childhood School (preschool to year 2 school)
- NSW students enrolling in ACT public schools.
For ACT residents:
If your preferred school is unable to offer a place, your application will be forwarded to your Priority Enrolment Area school (kindergarten to year 12 applications), or the nearest school with available capacity for preschool applications.
If you did not receive an offer from your preferred school, it may be because:
- Your application did not meet the enrolment criteria, or
- The criteria you applied under was subject to capacity and there was no capacity available, or
- The criteria you applied under was not applicable to your preferred school.
For NSW residents:
In limited circumstances only, ACT schools that are not NSW Pathway Schools can consider enrolment applications from NSW students. For details please see: NSW Students Enrolling in ACT Public Schools – Education.
Review process
You may request a Review if you are not satisfied with a preschool enrolment decision, by completing the Review Request Form 
. Reviews are assessed against the preschool prioritisation criteria (see: Enrolling in preschool).
If you are not satisfied with a kindergarten to year 12, Early Childhood School, or specialist bilingual program enrolment decision, you can ask for a Review by completing the Review Request Form , which will be sent to the principal of your preferred school. You can find contact details at Public Schools in the ACT. The school principal will conduct the Review based on the enrolment criteria for Enrolling in Kindergarten To Year 12, Early Childhood Schools, or the program specific criteria for Specialist language settings at Telopea Park School, Mawson and Yarralumla Primary Schools.
For NSW residents, applicants can submit their non-NSW Pathway School Review request by completing the Review Request form after receiving a letter of offer from their NSW Pathway School. The Education Support Office will Review your application based on the enrolment criteria for non-NSW Pathway School enrolment requests, and provide a recommendation to the school principal of your preferred school for Review decision.
The outcome of your Review will be sent to the email address provided in the Review request. Schools and the Education Support Office aim to complete reviews within 10 working days of receiving the request, however during peak enrolment periods delays may be experienced due to higher volume of requests.
Due to the amount of information required, some users find it easier to complete this form on a computer rather than a smartphone or other small device. Review requests are sent to the preferred school and/or the Education Support Office.
Appeal process
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a Review, you have the right to Appeal through the Education Directorate Education Support Office. The Appeals Panel will consider the Appeal based on the enrolment criteria found at Enrolling in a Public School. The Appeal Panel comprises a representative from Clinical Practice, a Director of School Improvement and another principal.
Please include any further supporting evidence in your Appeal, in relation to the enrolment criteria.
You can request an Appeal by completing the Appeal Request Form . The form, along with any attachments, will be sent to School Operations for the Appeals Panel to consider.
Alternately you can lodge an Appeal by writing to:
Enrolment Appeals
School Operations
PO Box 158
Canberra ACT 2601
The outcome of your Appeal will be sent to the email address provided in the Appeal request.
Due to the amount of information required, some users find it easier to complete this form on a computer rather than a smartphone or other small device. Appeal requests are sent to Education Directorate School Operations for consideration by the Appeals Panel.
Frequently asked questions
What types of supporting documents should I provide with my request? | The Review/Appeal process is designed to ensure all circumstances related to a student have been taken into account when an enrolment decision is made. Submitting a Review and Appeal is an opportunity to provide additional information that supports your request to enrol in an out of area school, with the type of information supplied dependent on the criteria you are applying under. Supporting documents can include (but are not limited to):
The Principal (for Review) or the Appeals Panel (for Appeal) will consider supporting information or documents provided against the relevant enrolment criteria. |
|---|---|
Why do I have to do a Review before an Appeal? | All Out of Area applications are assessed on the information provided in the Online Enrolment Form. A Review is an opportunity to provide additional information to support an application to an Out of Area school or non-Pathway school. Where the application meets the enrolment criteria at Review, the enrolment decision will be altered by the school, and a Review outcome will be sent. Should the applicant be unhappy with the Review outcome, they have the option to request an Appeal. |
When will I find out the outcome of my request? | Schools and the Education Support Office aim to complete Reviews within 10 working days of receiving the request, however during peak enrolment periods delays may be experienced due to higher volume of requests. The Directorate aims to hear Appeals within 6 weeks of receiving the request. This allows adequate time to gather information regarding the Appeal of the enrolment decision and provide an outcome. This timeframe can be impacted during school holidays and the high-volume period of semester two. |
I am not satisfied with an Appeal decision. What else can I do? | If you wish to make a complaint or provide feedback, you can contact Feedback and Complaints via the ACT Education Directorate contact form If you feel you have not been treated fairly, you are welcome to raise your concerns beyond the ACT Education Directorate. This could include the ACT Human Rights Commission |
Assistance
For more assistance with the Review or Appeal Request Forms, contact the Education Directorate via the Enrolments Helpline 6205 5429 or email education.enrolment@act.gov.au.