Appealing for a school place
If your child has been refused a place at your preferred school, you have the right to appeal the decision.
Before you appeal, read the School Admission Appeals Guide for Parents (PDF)
We recommend that you accept the school place offered to your child while your appeal is being considered. This means your child will still have a school place if your appeal is unsuccessful.
Before you appeal
Most appeals are made because a school is full and cannot admit additional children without affecting the education of existing pupils. Your reasons for appealing must be strong enough to outweigh this consideration in the view of the independent appeals panel.
It is important to explain clearly why your child should attend your preferred school. Relevant reasons may include:
- medical needs
- educational needs
- social or family circumstances
You should provide evidence to support any reasons you give.
Please note that:
- appeals based only on difficulties travelling to school are not often successful because parents are responsible in law for getting their child to school
- appeals are less likely to succeed if your child has been offered another suitable school reasonably close to home, even if it was not one of your preferences
- submitting your appeal form or supporting evidence late may delay your hearing
- the appeals process can be stressful, so it is important to respond promptly to requests for information and tell us if your contact details change
How to appeal
Community and voluntary controlled schools
If your child has been refused a place at a community or voluntary controlled school, the Admissions Team will send you a refusal letter with a link to the online appeal form.
Voluntary aided schools and academies
If your preferred school is a voluntary aided school or academy, contact the school directly for information about its appeals process.
Appeals timetable for the 2026 to 2027 school year
Appeals for September 2026 entry will be heard according to the timetable below.
Secondary school entry (Year 7) in September 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2 March 2026 | National offer day for on-time applications received by midnight on 31 October 2025 |
| 27 March 2026 | Deadline for appeal forms to be received by the Appeals Clerk |
| Mid-May to 16 June 2026 | Appeals heard for on-time applications |
Primary school entry (Reception) in September 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 April 2026 | National offer day for on-time applications received by midnight on 15 January 2026 |
| 14 May 2026 | Deadline for appeal forms to be received by the Appeals Clerk |
| Late June to 16 July 2026 | Appeals heard for on-time applications |
Appeals submitted after the deadline
Appeals received after the deadlines above will be heard either:
- in 40 school days of the appeal deadline
- in 30 school days of receiving the appeal
The later date will apply.
You will receive at least 10 school days' notice of your hearing date, time and location. You can choose to waive your right to this length of notice.
Appeal hearings are not held during school holidays or on teacher training (INSET) days.
In-year appeals
In-year appeals can be made throughout the school year.
You must submit your appeal in 20 school days of the date on your offer letter. Appeals received after this period will not be valid.
We will arrange your appeal hearing in 30 school days of receiving your appeal form, subject to the availability of panel members.
Infant class size appeals
Government legislation limits infant classes in maintained schools and academies to 30 pupils per teacher in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, except in specific circumstances.
Where this limit applies, the powers of the independent appeals panel are restricted and the appeal is considered as a review of the original decision.
For more information, see pages 13 to 15 (points 28 to 34) of the School Admission Appeals Guide for Parents (PDF).
For September 2024 entry, no infant class size appeals were successful.
Special educational needs and disabilities
If you want to appeal about special educational provision for your child, contact the Special Educational Needs Team for information and advice.
Email: SENDService@swindon.gov.uk
If you have questions about the school named in your child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), see the Swindon Local Offer.
Schools outside Swindon
If the school is outside Swindon Borough, you must follow the appeal arrangements published by the relevant local authority.
Contact us
If you have questions about the school admissions appeals process, email admissionappeals@swindon.gov.uk.