Appealing a secondary school place in Kent and Medway

Not getting you and your child’s secondary school of choice can be a massive blow.

Having embarked on tours, listened to presentations and envisaged your child there, it can be a huge disappointment to be turned away on Wednesday's National Offer Day (March 1).

But if you are unhappy with the school you have been given, both Kent County Council and Medway Council, offer you the opportunity to appeal.

In Kent

This year more children than ever applied for a place in a Kent secondary school, with 19,442 applications received, an increase of more than 640 on 2016.

KCC recommends that you still accept the place your child has been offered, even if it isn’t your school of choice, because while it will not affect your appeal it does guarantee your child has a school place if your appeal is unsuccessful. You have until March 16 to accept or refuse or send back waiting list forms.

If your child is due to start secondary school in September this year (2017) you can lodge an appeal up until March 29 for one of your named schools.

KCC will reallocate places from schools waiting lists sending out a second round of offers on April 28.

From April 29, schools will maintain their own waiting lists and parents can apply to schools direct via the ‘In Year Common Application Form’ after this date to ask to be placed on the waiting list.

All of the required forms and further information can be obtained from the KCC website.

In Medway

Information about the right to appeal and how to go about putting your child on a school’s waiting list will be included with your offer letter from Medway Council.

For Medway Academies, Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools (primary and secondary), please refer to the individual school's website for the details of their planned appeals timetable.

For further information please telephone Medway Council on 01634 333 333.

Important dates, waiting list and appeal information can all be found at Medway Council’s website.