What month was your appeal?

Mummyspider27 · 2026-03-21T14:58:58+00:00

If you appealed your secondary school place in the last few years what month was your appeal? (Not a Grammar school) xx

GodSaveTheClean · 21/03/2026 16:34

For Year 7 entry appeals, usually in May or June, in time for transition day. Ours was June.

The school should have given you a deadline by which to appeal and appeals should be heard within 30 school days of being lodged, or 40 school days if you missed the appeal deadline, whichever is the later date

You should receive at least 10 school days’ notice of your appeal hearing date. School dates don’t include school holidays, inset days, bank holidays or weekends.

The school’s case should be made available to you at least 5 school days before the hearing. You can submit additional evidence up to 5 working days before the hearing. If you submit evidence after that it might not be considered.

You should get the decision with 5 school days of the hearing.

Original poster

Mummyspider27 · 21/03/2026 17:06

GodSaveTheClean · 21/03/2026 16:34

For Year 7 entry appeals, usually in May or June, in time for transition day. Ours was June.

The school should have given you a deadline by which to appeal and appeals should be heard within 30 school days of being lodged, or 40 school days if you missed the appeal deadline, whichever is the later date

You should receive at least 10 school days’ notice of your appeal hearing date. School dates don’t include school holidays, inset days, bank holidays or weekends.

The school’s case should be made available to you at least 5 school days before the hearing. You can submit additional evidence up to 5 working days before the hearing. If you submit evidence after that it might not be considered.

You should get the decision with 5 school days of the hearing.

Thank you. Which schools inset days are taken into consideration? The school you appealing for? All schools have different inset days x

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GodSaveTheClean · 21/03/2026 17:53

The school you are appealing for, as they are the ones preparing their case against yours. Best of luck. It’s a really tough process and it took months of work but we were successful with our appeal. Gather as much credible evidence as you can and please remember to appeal for the school you want - not against the school you have been offered.

The panel need to be convinced the appeal school is the only one that can meet your child’s needs.

Original poster

Mummyspider27 · 21/03/2026 18:13

GodSaveTheClean · 21/03/2026 17:53

The school you are appealing for, as they are the ones preparing their case against yours. Best of luck. It’s a really tough process and it took months of work but we were successful with our appeal. Gather as much credible evidence as you can and please remember to appeal for the school you want - not against the school you have been offered.

The panel need to be convinced the appeal school is the only one that can meet your child’s needs.

Thank you so much xxx

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MarchingFrogs · 21/03/2026 22:51

The panel need to be convinced the appeal school is the only one that can meet your child’s needs.

No - that's the 'test' for a school which has an 'Exceptional medical/ social need' criterion to agree to rank an applicant under said criterion.

For an appeal to be upheld, the panel has to decide that the prejudice to the child of not attending that school outweighs the prejudice to the school of having to admit an extra pupil into the year group, not that the apealed-for school is 'the only one'. For a start, they know that the legislation allows the parent to appeal the decision not to admit their DC to any school, so parents who were allocated none of their ranked preferences may quite legitimately be appealing for up to half a dozen schools.

GodSaveTheClean · 22/03/2026 08:25

MarchingFrogs · 21/03/2026 22:51

The panel need to be convinced the appeal school is the only one that can meet your child’s needs.

No - that's the 'test' for a school which has an 'Exceptional medical/ social need' criterion to agree to rank an applicant under said criterion.

For an appeal to be upheld, the panel has to decide that the prejudice to the child of not attending that school outweighs the prejudice to the school of having to admit an extra pupil into the year group, not that the apealed-for school is 'the only one'. For a start, they know that the legislation allows the parent to appeal the decision not to admit their DC to any school, so parents who were allocated none of their ranked preferences may quite legitimately be appealing for up to half a dozen schools.

Thank you for adding more detail. The point of my post was that the appeal should be pro the appeal school, not anti the allocated one.

MarchingFrogs · 22/03/2026 10:50

GodSaveTheClean · 22/03/2026 08:25

Thank you for adding more detail. The point of my post was that the appeal should be pro the appeal school, not anti the allocated one.

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Absolutely with you there. Most panel members are quite realistic regarding the real reason for many appeals - that is, We dont want what we've got - but even if the current situation is not desirable (subjectively or even objectively) that in itself is definitely not a compelling reason for upholding an appeal for the specific school in front of them, so to speak, if the school's case is stronger.

Original poster

Mummyspider27 · 22/03/2026 17:57

This is all so interesting to read thank you. I am soaking up as much advice and information as possible. Making endless notes to prepare for the actual appeal. I’m happy with my evidence I have submitted, (reread and reworded a million times before submitting!!!). I can try and research and plan for the actual appeal and what they will ask but I don’t actually know. That part is scary as I just don’t know what to expect. Hate the waiting, wish it was tomorrow!! Xx

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