After you apply - secondary school allocations
We will start processing applications as soon as applications have closed.
All preferences for school places are looked at equally, regardless of whether you choose them as a first, second or third preference. Putting a secondary school first does not improve your chances of obtaining a place there.
Please remember:
- if it's possible to offer your child more than one secondary school place, you'll be offered the school that was ranked higher on your application
- for all schools where the total number of preferences received is equal to, or less than the number of places available (the published admission number), all applications who have expressed the school as a preference will be offered a place
- if the number of preferences is greater than the number of school places available, places will be offered in accordance with the school's admission criteria
Schools in other local authorities
If you've chosen a foundation, voluntary aided, academy or a secondary school in another local authority, we'll liaise with the appropriate admission authority who will consider your application against their admission policy.
They'll tell us what places can be offered.
National offer day
If you live in Hartlepool and applied online for your child's secondary school place, you will receive an email on 2 March 2026 confirming which school your child has been offered (unless you selected to be informed by post on your application). If you completed a paper application and provided an email address you will receive your offer via email on 2 March 2026. If no email was provided on the application form a letter will be sent out second class to your home address.
Accepting your place
The school place offered will automatically be accepted by the school admissions team. The school you have been offered will write to you in the coming months regarding your child's transition arrangements for September.
Please only contact us if you want to refuse the school place your child has been offered, however we strongly advise you keep hold of this place, even if it's not your ideal preference. Accepting this place does not affect your chances of being offered a place at another school from the waiting list or your right of appeal. You can decline this place later once you have a secured a place at another school. Declining the offer will not increase the chances of your child being offered a place at your preferred school. You should not decline the school place offered unless you have already secured a place at another school or made alternative arrangements for your child’s education - for example, private education. You will need to provide this information with your response.
If you have been refused a place at your chosen school(s)
If your child is refused a place at one or more of the schools you requested, your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list for these schools. We will contact you if a place becomes available for your child from the waiting list. The letter you receive will also explain what the next steps are and how you can appeal against the decision to refuse your child a place.
Your right to appeal
If your child has not been offered a place at one of your preferred schools, you have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Please note that you can only appeal where you have made an application for a school place and have been refused a place into the relevant year group.
You may appeal for each school at which a place has been refused, and each appeal will be considered at a separate hearing. You will need to complete a separate appeal application form for each school and each child.
More information about appeals can be found on our school appeals page.