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.
Key dates for 2026
Secondary school appeals (Year 7)
- offer day: 2 March 2026
- deadline to appeal: 31 March 2026
- appeals heard between: 11 May and 18 June 2026
- deadline for appeals to be completed: 18 June 2026
Primary school appeals (Reception)
- offer day: 16 April 2026
- deadline to appeal: 19 May 2026
- appeals heard between: 15 June and 20 July 2026
- deadline for appeals to be completed: 20 July 2026
In-year appeals
- For all other year groups, we will hold your hearing as soon as possible and within 30 school days of receiving your appeal.
Late appeals
You can still appeal after these dates, but we may not hear your appeal before the school year starts.