How to appeal a school place

Primary school appeals (Reception)

You can appeal if:

• you applied for September 2026 and your child was not offered a place

You will be invited to attend an appeal hearing in June or July 2026. If you decide not to attend, your appeal will be considered based on your written submission.

Infant class size appeals

This refers to Government legislation that states that no child attending a maintained school or academy and who is in an infant class Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 can be taught in a class of over 30 pupils (except where certain specific and exceptional circumstances apply).

In most schools in Hartlepool, if any additional child was admitted above the school's published admission number, the school would not be able to comply with the law regarding infant class sizes without making accommodating measures, such as employing an additional teacher.

If a school refuses your child a place because of this limit and you want to appeal, you will need to make an infant class size appeal.

You can see if your reasons are likely to be successful by reading the Department for Education's information about infant class size appeals.

Secondary school appeals (Year 7)

You can appeal if:

• you applied for September 2026 and your child was not offered a place

You will be invited to attend an appeal hearing in May or June 2026. If you decide not to attend, your appeal will be considered based on your written submission.

In-year appeals

You can appeal if:

• you applied to change schools and your child was refused a place

You will be invited to attend an appeal hearing within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged. If you decide not to attend, your appeal will be considered based on your written submission.