Guides › Public Services › School Place Refused: How to Appeal
School Place Refused: How to Appeal
If your child is refused a school place, you can appeal. The admission authority must give you at least 20 school days to appeal from when it sends the decision letter, and appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline. The panel decides whether the admission criteria were properly followed.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Appealing
Your Right to Appeal
If your child is refused a place, you can appeal. You get at least 20 school days to appeal from when the decision letter is sent, and appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the deadline. The panel decides if the admission criteria were properly followed and comply with the school admissions code; if not, the appeal must be upheld. In reception, year 1 and year 2 classes are limited to 30, which affects these appeals. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 20 school daysLodge your appealAt least, from the decision letter
- 40 school daysAppeal heardFrom the appeal deadline
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Read the refusal letter and note the deadline.
Step 2 of 5
Ask for the admission criteria and how they were applied.
Step 3 of 5
Lodge your appeal in writing with your reasons.
Step 4 of 5
Gather evidence, such as medical or social reasons.
Step 5 of 5
Attend the hearing and explain your case.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
School Admission Appeals (GOV.UK)
Your appeal rights.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Complaints about how a community or voluntary aided school appeal was run.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Accept any place offered meanwhile: it does not stop your appeal.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/schools-admissions/appealing-a-schools-decision Checked 13 October 2026