Appeal a school admission decision

School places

If your request for places at your preferred schools are refused, this is usually because they received more applications than there were places available.

If your child has been refused a place at a school, they will automatically be placed on the waiting list for that school. The Admissions team can give you information on your waiting list position and which other schools may have places available.

You can also appeal the decision to refuse a place to your child at any of your preferred schools, and can appeal for more than one school at the same time. Your appeal will be heard by The Admission Appeal Panel, which is independent of the Council, you, and the school you are appealing for.

What is my child’s waiting list position? 

We only deal with appeals not the waiting list. Please contact Admissions for this information. Email admissions@derby.gov.uk.

Where are there available school places? 

We have no access to this information. Please contact Admissions. Email admissions@derby.gov.uk.

How to appeal

For academies, voluntary-aided, foundation, trust or free schools, the schools manage their own appeals. If you would like to appeal, please contact the school directly and they will be able to tell you what you need to do. Please do not appeal to the Council.

For community or voluntary-controlled schools, appeals are dealt with by the Council.

If you are appealing for an intake year, please see the school appeals timetable for closing dates and when appeals are currently scheduled for. 

If you are appealing for a school in-year, the deadline for returning appeal forms will be at least 28 school days from the date of the decision letter.

The quickest and easiest way to appeal is online. Alternatively, you can request a paper application by telephoning 01332 642697 or emailing admissions@derby.gov.uk.

Make an appeal

Infant class size appeals

The legal limit of 30 pupils per class in reception, year 1 and year 2 classes restricts the circumstances where an Appeal Panel can allow an appeal, if it takes the class group above the 30 pupils limit.

When classes are at 30 pupils for these year groups, the Appeal Panel can only uphold an appeal if it is satisfied that:

• an error was made in the processing of your application
• the admission arrangements breached the law, the School Admissions Code or the arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied - and if they had been, a place would have been offered
• the decision to refuse the place was wholly unreasonable.

You may still talk about your personal, social and domestic circumstances during an infant class size appeal however the Independent Appeal Panel is only allowed to grant an appeal if it meets one of the criteria above.

The quickest and easiest way to appeal and infant class size is online. Alternatively, you can request a paper application by telephoning 01332 642697.

Please read our Guidance Notes before making an appeal.

Appeal against infant class size

Who to contact

If your child has been refused a place at a school, they will automatically be placed on the waiting list. 

You can also appeal the decision to refuse a place for your child at any of your preferred schools and can appeal for more than one school at the same time.

The following is the list of Derby city schools and who to contact, if you wish to make an appeal.

Infant schools

Junior schools

Primary schools

Secondary schools

Appeals timetable 2025 -2026

These dates are dependent on future guidance from the DfE regarding the Schools Admissions Appeal Code.

If the current rules remain in place, then an appeal has to be lodged within 28 days of the notification

Secondary school appeals

Primary school appeals

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