Appeal for a school place

Appeal deadlines

In accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code, the Council as the admission authority for community schools must set a timetable for organising and hearing education appeals. The following timetable will apply to appeals for admission to community and voluntary controlled schools lodged within the 2025/2026 academic year, this includes:

• Appeals for entry into Reception Class – September 2026 Intake
• Appeals for entry into Year 7 – September 2026 Intake
• In-Year appeals received during 2025/26 academic year

Foundation schools and academies within the Borough of Hartlepool will also follow the dates below.

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

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

Before your appeal hearing

• The appellant will receive a letter notifying them of the date, time and venue of the appeal hearing and the panel appointed to hear their appeal at least 10 school days before the hearing

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.

Complain about the appeals process – GOV.UK