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Appeal refusal of a secondary school place year 7 2026

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.

The deadline for appeals against notifications received on 2 March 2026 is 30 March 2026.

Appeals timetable September 2026 entry

Allocation day for secondary schools is 2 March 2026.

The deadline for lodging appeals for secondary schools is 30 March 2026.

Appeals must be received 20 school days from the date of notification that the request was unsuccessful. If notification of a refusal of place is received after 2 March, the appeal must be received 20 school days from the date of notification.

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

For further advice on making an appeal for secondary transfer 2026 entry, please contact the admissions officer on 01432 260925 or email schooladmissions@herefordshire.gov.uk

Appeals 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.

If you wish to appeal against a decision refusing your child a place at a school, sign up to complete refusal of school place

Sign up to complete refusal of a school place

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:

  • The Hereford Academy
  • The John Masefield High School
  • The Steiner Academy Hereford
  • St Mary’s RC High School

Further information

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

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