Appeal against a school place decision
You can appeal for a place at any community school where you have applied and have been refused a place.
Quick links
Before completing an appeal form, please see below for details of schools that are responsible for their own appeals. For these schools you will need to contact the school to lodge an appeal.
How do I appeal?
If you want to appeal against a decision to refuse a school place, you need to complete the 'notice of appeal' form at the top of this page. You can also download guidance to help you with your appeal, and details of the appeals timetable.
If you have been refused a place at any of the voluntary aided schools, academies or free schools in Leicester (listed below) you must contact the school directly. For contact details please visit the schools directory.
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School
- English Martyrs Catholic School
- Falcons Primary School
- Holy Cross Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
- Hope Hamilton Church of England Primary School
- Humberstone Infant Academy
- Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Saint Patrick’s Catholic Voluntary Academy
- St John the Baptist Church of England Primary School
- St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Saint Paul’s Catholic School
- St Peter’s Church of England Primary School
- St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Tudor Grange Samworth Academy, A Church of England School
If you have been refused a place at a Leicestershire school which is outside the Leicester city boundary, you should contact Leicestershire County Council's school admissions service on 0116 305 2070.
Your decision letter will also include details on how to appeal.
Appeal process
An appeal is heard by an independent panel, who will consider evidence from you and us about how they have applied the admissions policy in your case. The panel make its decision after hearing both sides, and the decision they make is legally binding.
Appeal timetables
Appeals for Year 7 entry (secondary transfer)
| Process | Date |
| National offer day | Monday 3 March 2025 |
| Appeals deadline (20 school days) | Monday 31 March 2025 |
| Appeals to be heard by (40 school days) | Tuesday 17 June 2025 |
| Appeals lodged after Monday 31 April 2025 | 40 school days from the date the appeal was lodged |
Appeals for foundation 2 entry (first time admissions 4+) and appeals for infant to junior Year 3 entry (junior transfer)
| Process | Date |
| National offer day | Wednesday 16 April 2025 |
| Appeals deadline (20 school days) | Tuesday 3 June 2025 |
| Appeals to be heard by (40 school days) | Monday 8 September 2025 |
| Appeals lodged after Tuesday 3 June 2025 | 40 school days from the date the appeal was lodged |
In-year refusals
An application is an ‘in-year’ application if it is for the admission of a child to a relevant age group and it is submitted on or after the first day of the first school term of the admission year, or it is for the admission of a child to an age group other than a relevant age group.
| Process | Date |
| Appeals to be heard | 30 school days from the date the appeal was lodged |
Please note
Admission appeals are required to be heard within the above time-limits set. However, the service appreciates the importance of determining a child’s school in advance of the new academic year and therefore, where possible, the appeals service will attempt to hear all appeals filed (except those for in-year admissions) before the start of the school year on Tuesday 26 August 2025. Where this is not possible, then the latest these appeals will be held, will be in accordance with the above timetable.
Contact legal services for any queries regarding appeals
You can call us on 0116 454 1410 or send us an email: [email protected].