Appeals for Places in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, from September 2025 onwards
If we cannot offer you a place, you will have the right of appeal. The appeal panel is independent of the school and council and their decision is legally binding. Before you appeal you:
should accept any place that you have been offered in case your appeal is not successful
should think about why you are appealing and check if it is likely to be successful
could read the advice for appealing school places on GOV.UK
could get independent advice on making an appeal from a charity
Leeds City Council arranges our appeals, and you can find the appeal form at School appeals (leeds.gov.uk)
If you are appealing for a Year 7 place for September 2026, you need to submit your appeal form by 31 March 2026 to ensure the appeal will be heard before the summer holidays.
If you are appealing for a current Year 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, your hearing will be held as soon as possible and no more than 30 school days after the date your appeal was submitted.
You can appeal because you want your child to attend a particular school. These are successful if the panel agree that the reasons for your appeal outweigh the school’s decision not to admit any more children.
Wanting your child to go to a school because you think it is the best one in the area is not likely to convince the panel that your child should get a place there.
After you appeal Admissions at Leeds City Council will invite you to a hearing. They will contact you at least 10 school days before your hearing to let you know the date and time of the appeal.
Your appeal may take place at any time between 9am to 5pm.
Before the appeal, you will be sent the appeal papers. These include all documents you submitted and the school’s statement of case where they set out why they refused the appeal. You must read these before the appeal.
Following the appeal hearing, a decision letter will be sent within 5 school days of the hearing. The decision of the panel is final.
School days are term time only and do not include school holidays. If an appeal is submitted in the holidays the school days deadline will not start until the beginning of the next term e.g. an appeal received in July after schools have closed will not be heard until the new academic term; “school days” will start from the beginning of September when the term starts.
For further information please contact admissions@cardinalheenan.com
