Appeal deadlines
If you're appealing for a place starting in September 2026, the deadlines are:
- Year 7: 31 March 2026
- Reception: 19 May 2026
You can still appeal after these dates, but we may not hear your appeal before the school year starts.
For all other year groups, we will hold your hearing as soon as possible and within 30 school days of receiving your appeal.
Your right to appeal
If your child is refused a place at your preferred school, you have the right to appeal. You’ll only be refused a place at your preferred school if the school is oversubscribed, and it was not possible to allocate your child a place when the admission criteria were applied
- Appeals are heard by an independent panel
- The panel’s decision is final and must be accepted by the school and us
- Appeals are usually only successful in exceptional circumstances
- This process does not apply to nursery admissions
View school admissions appeal statistics
Before you appeal
You should read advice about school admission appeals for parents and guardians on GOV.UK.
How to appeal
To appeal for any Hartlepool school:
- contact the School Admissions Team to request an appeal form
- return the completed form before the deadline on the form
What to expect at the appeal hearing
- Your appeal will be heard in private
- An independent panel of three people will hear your case
- A clerk will record the hearing and provide legal advice
- A presenting officer will explain why your child was refused a place
- You will have the chance to explain why your child should be offered a place
After the appeal hearing
- You’ll receive a written decision within 5 school days of the final hearing for that school
- The panel’s decision is binding
- You can only appeal again in the same academic year if there is a significant change in circumstances
If you're unhappy with how the appeal was run, you can make a complaint.