Schools admission appeals

Hearing dates for academic year 2025 to 2026

Each type of school appeal has different arrangements:

• reception appeals: for children under five starting school on or after 1 September 2026
• secondary transfer appeals: for children aged 11 moving to secondary school in September 2026
• in-year appeals: for children of any age changing school
• sixth form appeals: for Year 11 students wanting to start sixth form in a school in September 2026. Note: Appeals for admission to a sixth form college are handled by the college itself.

Timetable for Reception appeals

The information provided is for Community schools in Kensington and Chelsea. For other schools, you are advised to check the individual school websites for confirmation of their appeal timetable.

Process	Timescale
Last day for lodging appeal forms for a place in RECEPTION to start in September 2026	Wednesday 20 May 2026 to guarantee that your appeal will be heard in the first tranche of appeals.  Appeals lodged later may not be heard until the second tranche which could be in September 2026.   You must state the reasons for your appeal and supply any documentary evidence at this stage.
The stage 1 part of the hearing (with other parents present) will take place on	Monday 29 June 2026, time to be advised on letter of invitation.
Part 2, the individual private hearings will take place on	Monday 29 June 2026, time to be advised on letter of invitation.
Invitation letter giving details about your hearing will be sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel	At least 10 school days before the stage 1 hearing.
Any additional supporting evidence	Monday 22 June 2026  Please email any additional paperwork to [email protected] before the deadline. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account.
Letter from the Clerk informing you of the decision of the independent appeal panel	Due to the high number of appeals held at this time, this may not be sent until up to 15 school days after the last hearing for the school.

Timetable for secondary transfer appeals

There are no Community secondary schools in Kensington and Chelsea, so you are advised to check the individual school websites for guidance on the appeal timetable for each school.

The timetable may differ from school to school however all schools must adhere to the following.

• allow appellants at least 20 schools days from the date of notification that the application was unsuccessful to prepare and lodge their written appeal. 
• appeals must be heard by an independent panel within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals.
   

Timetable for in-year appeals

Information about reception class and secondary transfer appeals for entry in September 2026 will be added to this page by 28 February 2026.

In-year admission appeals (for school places during the school year) will be heard within 30 school days of you lodging the appeal. 

Process	Timescale
Last day to lodge your appeal form	20 school days after you receive the decision letter saying your child was not offered a place.
Invitation letter	Sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel at least 10 school days before the hearing. This may be emailed. All in-year appeals are heard within 30 school days of your appeal form being lodged.
Deadline for additional supporting evidence	Any additional supporting evidence must be submitted at least five working days before your hearing. Additional paperwork received on the day of the hearing will not be considered.
Decision letter	Because of the high number of appeals, you will first get an email with the panel’s decision a few working days after the hearing. Around 10 working days later, you will receive a letter from the Clerk with the panel’s reasons.

Sixth form appeals will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged. If the offer of a place depends on exam results, the appeal will be heard within 30 school days after the results are released.

Appeals are heard in line with the Department for Education guidance issued in October 2022. Read the full School admission appeals code on GOV.UK.