The Ministry of Justice published quarterly tribunals
statistics, which includes Special Educational Needs and
Disability (SEND) tribunals, showing annual data for the 2024/25
academic year.
Key findings:
- 25,000 registered SEND appeals in academic year 2024/25
– up 18% from 2023/24 and the highest level ever recorded.
This is the 9th consecutive year of increases.
- 20,000 appeals resolved in 2024/25 – up 19% on previous
year, but appeals coming in continue to outpace those being
resolved.
- Open caseload reached 15,000 cases at end of September
2025 – a new record high.
- 61% of appeals were about disagreements over the content
of EHC plans; 24% were about refusal to assess.
- Section I appeals (school placement): 31% resulted in parent
preference; 24% resulted in LA agreeing with parent at hearing;
13% resulted in LA preference.
Please see a quote from Minister Gould to include in any
reporting below.
Schools Minister said:
"Each tribunal case reflects a family forced to fight just to get
their child the right support.
“We have already made progress reforming the system – creating
10,000 new school places for children with SEND, funding early
language support for 20,000 children and ensuring there will be
professionals trained in supporting children
with additional needs across the 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs.
"We're determined to make support routine, not a battle. Strong
legal safeguards will remain, but families shouldn't have to
reach crisis point to get help. Parents and children deserve, and
will get, better, which is exactly why are running the biggest
national conversation on SEND in a generation to transform the
support families receive.”
