Secondary school places March 2022: How to appeal a school admissions decision

01.03.2022 - 11:49 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

After a nerve-racking wait parents across Greater Manchester will find out today if their child has got into the secondary school of their choice.

March 1 is National Offer Day - the day that all secondary school places in England are allocated.

Schools in Greater Manchester are oversubscribed meaning many parents are likely to be disappointed.

If you are unhappy about the secondary school place your child has been offered, you might want to appeal the decision.

Education experts reckon thousands of children across the country will miss out on their first choice school.

Here we answer questions parents may have on the appeal process ...

You are entitled to appeal against the council’s decision to refuse your child a place. You can do this online.

Details of how to appeal should also be included with the letter you received with the bad news, and sometimes an appeal form is automatically included.

If you live outside Manchester, the best advice is to check your local council’s website for information on their procedures.

Some schools handle their own appeals.

Your local authority should list all schools with their own appeal process on their website.

If you have been refused a place at one of these schools, you may have to contact the school directly.

Manchester council bosses say you should accept the place you have been offered, then lodge an appeal if it isn't for the school you were hoping for. Even if you want to appeal for a place at another school, it is vital that you accept the place you have been offered - doing so will not affect your appeal.

Links to school admission appeals pages on each council website:

If your child has been permanently excluded from two or more schools, you cannot appeal for two years