Harrow
Data availableLondon
29
appeals registered, 2024 (official DfE figure)
33
appeals registered, 2025 (official DfE figure)
Data available. At least one Freedom of Information response gives real, extractable figures on tribunal appeals or outcomes for this council.
This council says it doesn't track this. In its FOI response, Harrow told the requester it does not categorise SEND tribunal appeals as simply "won" or "lost" — most are resolved by consent order rather than a contested ruling. See why that's true almost everywhere.
Thinking about appealing, or partway through it? These are free, independent sources of advice — not run by this site, and not run by any council.
- Harrow Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service — this council's own free SEND information, advice and support service. Every council is legally required to fund one, at arm's length from itself · 0208 4286487.
- IPSEA — Free, independent legal advice on SEN law — including EHC plans and tribunal appeals.
- SOS!SEN — Free helpline and 1:1 advice specifically on preparing a SEND tribunal appeal.
- Coram Children's Legal Centre — Free education law advice line, including SEN appeals and EHC plan reviews.
- GOV.UK: appeal an EHC plan decision — The official government guide to the appeals process itself — who can appeal, mediation, costs.
Estimated outcome breakdown
Estimated, not reported
Resolved before hearing — 24 (72.7%)
Contested, council lost — 6 (18.2%)
Contested, council won — 2 (6.1%)
Partially split — 1 (3%)
This council's own answer doesn't give a usable outcome breakdown. This estimate applies the pooled England-wide outcome rate (no regional sample was large enough to trust on its own) to this council's own real, officially-published appeal volume for 2025 (33 appeals) — see how estimates work.
By decision type
By decision type — 2019-2024 (calendar years)
| Category (council's own wording) | Appeals | Overturned |
|---|---|---|
| % of appeals disputing Section B, special educational needs | — | — |
| % disputing Section F, educational provision | — | — |
| % disputing Section I, named placement | — | — |
Freedom of Information responses
Awaiting classification
Response ref 8853723. Q3 SEND tribunal appeals registered against the Borough, by calendar year (council's own clarification: 'Tribunals are registered by calendar year so the data provided will be provided by calendar year'): 2019: 23; 2020: 13; 2021: 17; 2022: 40; 2023: 28; 2024: 29. Q3i (% of appeals disputing Section B, special educational needs): 2019: 35%, 2020: 15%, 2021: 29%, 2022: 22%, 2023: 32%, 2024: 34%. Q3ii (% disputing Section F, educational provision): 2019: 35%, 2020: 15%, 2021: 41%, 2022: 30%, 2023: 39%, 2024: 34%. Q3iii (% disputing Section I, named placement): 2019: 35%, 2020: 23%, 2021: 29%, 2022: 17%, 2023: 25%, 2024: 48%. Q4/Q5 (cases defended / % won-lost): 'The information for questions 4 and 5 is not recorded by Harrow Council.' Q6 (internal legal hours): 'This information is not recorded by Harrow Council.' Q7 (external legal support engaged 2019-2024): 'No.'
Caveat: Percentages for Q3i-iii can exceed 100% combined per year since a single appeal can raise more than one section (B/F/I) simultaneously; the council gives only percentages, not underlying case counts, so exact numbers per category cannot be derived. The letter header date ('January 2024') appears inconsistent with body text referencing a request received '30th December 2025' -- an apparent templating artefact in the council's own letter, transcribed as printed rather than corrected.