7.CIF appeal process and playbook

7.1Appeal window

Appeals must be submitted in writing within approximately ten working days of the outcome notification email from ESFA. Late appeals are not accepted.^[2]

7.2Valid grounds

1. The assessor materially misunderstood evidence already in the original submission.
2. A procedural error occurred during scoring or moderation.
3. The published feedback contains a factual inaccuracy that, if corrected, changes the score band.

New evidence not present in the original submission is not a valid ground for appeal.^[1]

7.3Indicative submission template

Appeal submissions should be concise (three to five pages), reference each disputed sub-criterion by number, quote the relevant evidence from the original submission verbatim, and request a specific re-scored outcome.

7.4Historic appeal success rate

Published outcomes show a relatively low success rate for appeals, typically under 20 percent of cases. Bursars should plan for a likely refusal and consider re-submission in the following cycle as the primary fallback.^[3]

7.5If the appeal is refused

Trusts unable to win on appeal generally pursue one of three routes: re-submission in the next CIF round with revised evidence, redirection of works to SCA (where eligible), or accessing the Risk Protection Arrangement for in-scope fabric defects.^[8]