Schools appeals timetable
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 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.