Appealing for a school place

If you have been refused a school place at your preferred school, you have the right to appeal against the decision. 

Guidance on the process is available in the School Admission Appeals Guide for Parents.

We recommend accepting the offered school place whilst your appeal is underway. The school place you have been offered will remain to ensure your child has a school place even if your appeal is unsuccessful.

Please bear in mind the following:

• Very few appeals succeed because the school appealed for is already full and cannot admit an additional child without harming the education of the existing children
• You are unlikely to be successful, even if you have difficulty in getting your child to school, as this is the parent’s responsibility in law
• You are unlikely to be successful where you have been allocated another school place reasonably near to your home, even a non-preference school
• You will need strong medical, educational or social reasons for appealing and strong supporting evidence
• Appeals are expensive for schools, and they prolong uncertainty for parents and may be stressful
• If you submit your appeal and/or evidence late, your appeal may be delayed
• If you do not keep the Appeals Clerk updated with your contact details, you may not receive emails, letters or decisions

Making your appeal

For Community and Voluntary Controlled schools, the Admissions Team will send you a refusal letter providing you with a link to an online appeal form. 

If your preferred school is a Voluntary Aided or an Academy, information on how to appeal is available from the school.

School admission appeals timetable for academic year 2025/2026

Appeals for September 2025 entry will be heard in accordance with the following timetable.

Secondary school entry into Year 7 in September 2025

• Monday, 3 March 2025 - Offer day for Secondary schools, for on-time applications received by midnight on 31 October 2024
• Monday, 31 March 2025 - Deadline by which your appeal form for a Secondary school must be received by the Appeals Clerk
• Mid May to Wednesday, 18 June 2025 - Appeals heard for on-time Secondary school applications

Primary school entry into Reception in September 2025

• Wednesday,16 April 2025 - Offer day for Primary schools, for on-time applications received by midnight on 15 January 2025
• Tuesday, 20 May 2025 - Deadline by which your appeal form for Primary school must be received by the Appeal Clerk 
• Late June to Friday, 18 July 2025 - Appeals heard for on-time Primary school applications

Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadlines, or within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal, whichever is the later.

You will be given at least 10 school days’ notice of the date, time and location of the appeal hearing. You may waive your right to this length of notice.

School appeals are not held during school holidays or on INSET days. 

In-year appeals

In-year appeals are held throughout the year as required. You have 20 school days to appeal from the date of the offer letter. If your appeal form is submitted after this time, the appeal will not be valid. 

Your appeal will be organised within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal form, subject to the availability of Panel Members. 

Infant class size legislation

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

Where the infant class size limit of 30 applies, the powers of the Independent Panel are limited, and an appeal is, in law, a review. Further information can be found on pages 13 to 15 (points 28 to 34) of the School Admission Appeals Guide for Parents.

For September 2024 entry, no infant class size cases were successful at appeal.

Special educational needs and disability

If you want to appeal against the provision of Special Education for your child, contact the Special Educational Needs Team for information and advice at SENDService@swindon.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about the school named in your child’s Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), please see the Swindon Local Offer for further information.

Schools outside the Borough of Swindon

Appeals for schools outside the Borough of Swindon should be made in accordance with the published admission arrangements of the relevant local authority.

Further advice

For further information on the appeal process, email: admissionappeals@swindon.gov.uk