School admission appeals
If you are not offered a place at one of your preferred schools you can appeal that decision. The appeals panel is independent of the council and schools in the borough.
You must have named a school on your application to appeal against the decision not to offer it.
Appeals are rarely successful, particularly for children between the ages of 5-7 years old. This is because the government has placed limits on class sizes in this age range to a maximum of 30 pupils.
Submit an appeal
You can appeal against any decision not to offer your child a place at school (but not nursery). You may appeal for more than one school.You must complete and submit your appeal online. This is a simple and safe way to appeal and you will receive confirmation it has been submitted.This form is only for appeals and should not be used to submit any other type of information or to apply for a school place or a school transfer.Please refer to your refusal letter for further information.
Evidence
Please include any evidence or supporting material with your online appeal. You must give the reasons for your appeal at the time the appeal is submitted.Submit a Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 appeal Submit an Appeal for Year 3 to Year 11, including Secondary Transfer
Appeals timetable
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Last day for lodging appeal forms for places in year 7 at SECONDARY schools
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4pm on 31 March 2025
Appeals received after this date may not be heard by the end of the summer term.
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Last day for lodging appeal forms for Reception in PRIMARY schools
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4pm on 20 May 2025
Appeals submitted after this deadline will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged and may not be heard before the end of the summer term.
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Secondary appeals will take place from
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April to June 2025
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Primary appeals will take place from
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June to July 2025
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Invitation letter giving you details about your hearing will be sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel
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At least 10 school days before the hearing
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Any additional evidence or supporting evidence
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At least five school days before the hearing. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account.
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Letter from the Clerk informing you of the decision of the independent panel
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Where possible this will be sent five school days after the last hearing for all the appeals held for that particular school.
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Secondary Transfer Appeals Schedule 2025
| School | Gropuped Appeal Date | Appeal Hearing Date |
|---|
| St Paul's Way Trust |
24 April 5pm
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28, 29, 30 April and 6, 7, 8 May
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| Central Foundation |
28 April, 8am
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28, 30 April
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| Mulberry Girls |
12 May, 8am
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12, 13 May
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| Morpeth |
15 May, 8am
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15, 16 May
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| Swanlea |
19 May, 8am
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19, 20 May
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| Stepney All Saints |
2 June, 8am
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2, 3, 4 June
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| Mulberry Stepney Green |
9 June
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9 June
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| Langdon Park |
9 June
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9 June
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| George Green |
12 June, 8am
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12 June
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Appeals for Canary Wharf College Schools
Appeals for Canary Wharf College Schools should be made via the schools website.
Appeal outcomes for admission in Year 7 in 2024
| School | Number of appeals | Successful |
|---|
| Central Foundation |
6
|
0 |
|---|
| George Greens |
13
|
0 |
|---|
| Langdon Park |
1
|
0
|
|---|
| Morpeth |
16
|
2
|
|---|
| Mulberry Girls |
20
|
1
|
|---|
| Mulberry Stepney Green |
5
|
0 |
|---|
| St Pauls Way |
95
|
0
|
|---|
| Stepney All Saints |
36
|
0
|
|---|
| Swanlea |
36
|
0
|
|---|
Appeal outcomes for admission in Reception in 2024
| School | Number of appeals | Successful |
|---|
| Bigland Green |
12
|
0
|
|---|
| Bonner - Bethnal Green |
1
|
0
|
|---|
| Bygrove |
4
|
0
|
|---|
| Cayley |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Cyril Jackson |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Globe |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Kobi Nazrul |
1
|
0
|
|---|
| Marner |
2
|
0
|
|---|
| Mayflower |
6
|
0
|
|---|
| Mowlem |
2
|
0
|
|---|
| Olga |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Seven Mills |
1
|
0
|
|---|
| The Clara Grant |
2
|
0
|
|---|
Appeals for voluntary aided or free schools
If you are appealing for a voluntary aided or free school, you should appeal via the school. Please see our list of VA and free schools. Voluntary aided or free schools
- Canary Wharf College Schools
- Christ Church Church of England
- English Martyrs Roman Catholic
- Our Lady and St Joseph Roman Catholic
- St Agnes Roman Catholic
- St Anne's & Guardian Angels Roman Catholic
- St Edmund’s Roman Catholic
- St Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic
- St John’s Church of England
- St Luke’s Church of England
- St Mary and St Michael Roman Catholic
- St Matthias Church of England
- St Paul's (Whitechapel) Church of England
- St Paul’s with St Luke’s Church of England
- St Peter’s London Docks Church of England
- St Saviour’s Church of England
- Stepney Greencoat Church of England
In Year Appeals
In-year appeals (for families applying for school places after the start of the school year) will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
Contact the Admissions Service
For more information about your right of appeal please email school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk