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Appeal refusal of a primary school place

If your child is not given a place at one of your preferred schools, you can appeal the decision.

In the first instance, please see the Department for Education's guidance - Advice for parents and guardians on school admission appeals. It provides information about what you should consider before making the decision to appeal, how you can exercise your right of appeal, and what you can expect at each stage of the appeals process.

School admission appeals timetable September 2026 entry

Allocation day for primary schools is 16 April 2026.

The deadline for lodging appeals for primary schools is midnight on 15 May 2026.

Appeals are scheduled to take place in June/July 2026. Once the appeal date is confirmed, Democratic Services at Herefordshire Council will contact you with details about the arrangements.

Appeals must be lodged 20 school days following refusal of a school place.

Appeals lodged after 15 May 2026 will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal being lodged.

School appeals are unlikely to be heard through the summer holidays.

For further advice on making an appeal for reception 2026 entry, please contact the admissions officers on 01432 260926 or 261574 or email schooladmissions@herefordshire.gov.uk

Appeal process

It is very important that a fair and independent process is in place for parents to appeal against decisions made by an admissions authority.

The appeal process we use follows strict national guidance. An appeal is given if we are unable to offer your child a higher preference of school or any of your preference(s) of school. And we have offered to the nearest school with availability.

Select the following link if you wish to appeal against a decision refusing your child a place at a school*:

Submit a school admission appeal

*Please note: The following Herefordshire schools make arrangements for organising and hearing their own admission appeals. You will not be able to use the link above to appeal against the refusal of a place at the following schools and will need to contact the school directly:

  • Brampton Abbotts CofE Primary School
  • Bridstow CofE Primary School
  • Brockhampton Primary Academy
  • Burghill Community Academy
  • Burley Gate CofE Primary School
  • Canon Pyon C E Primary Academy
  • Cradley CofE Primary School
  • Ivington CofE Primary School
  • Kingsland CofE Primary School
  • Kingstone and Thruxton Primary School
  • Lea CofE Primary School
  • Leintwardine CE Primary School
  • Mordiford CofE Primary School
  • Much Marcle CofE Primary School
  • Our Lady's RC Primary School
  • Pembridge CofE Primary School
  • Pencombe CofE Primary School
  • St Francis Xavier's Primary School
  • St James' Church of England Primary School, Hereford
  • St James CofE Primary School, Kimbolton
  • St Joseph's RC Primary School
  • St Mary's CofE Primary School, Fownhope
  • St Mary's Primary School, Dilwyn
  • St Michael's CofE Primary School
  • St Paul's CofE Primary School
  • Staunton-on-Wye Endowed Primary School
  • Stretton Sugwas CofE Academy
  • The Steiner Academy Hereford
  • Weston-under-Penyard CofE Primary School
  • Whitchurch CofE Primary School

Further information

You can find out more about appeals at the GOV.UK website.

GOV.UK guidance - Advice for parents and guardians on school admission appeals