You may appeal against the decision of the selection committee if you feel there were special factors which might have prevented the student from gaining higher school assessment scores or test scores or if there were other factors which might not have been considered by the selection committee. An example of grounds for appeal may be where a student has been prevented from obtaining higher test scores by the death or serious illness of a close family member. All such claims must be supported by documentary evidence.

All appeals must be made on an appeal form which is available from the Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement Unit or download the Appeal form (pdf 27kb).

You should complete your section of the appeal form and pass it on to your child's primary school principal, no later than 14 days after the date of the outcome advice. The principal should complete the principal's section and return the form to the Unit, no later than 21 days after the date on the outcome advice.

If the student's school or test performance was likely to have been affected by illness, the Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement Unit should have been notified within 14 days of the test, as part of the illness/misadventure process. Appeals based on illness will therefore be considered only in exceptional circumstances and all such appeals must include a medical certificate.

If you are appealing on other grounds, you should include evidence to support your appeal.

If your appeal is based on the student's school performance, the panel will consider only evidence concerning performance up to the end of Year 5.

The appeals panel may consult with the primary school principal.

The outcome of the appeals will usually be advised in October.