School appeal timelines

2027-2028 term dates for community and voluntary controlled schools

We are now consulting on the term dates for community and voluntary controlled schools in West Northamptonshire for the 2027-28 academic year.

View the proposed dates and let us know your views.

Find key information and deadlines for the new school appeal timelines

Action	Deadline
Appeals need to be submitted	Primary school: No later than 5pm on 15 May 2026 Secondary school: No later than 5pm on 27 March 2026 Sixth form: Where offers of places are conditional upon GCSE examination results, appeals for admission to sixth forms cannot be heard until after GCSE. results are known Late appeals: No deadline
Parents' additional evidence must be submitted	Within 10 school days of submitting their appeal by email to: [email protected] or by post to: Appeals Team, Democratic Services West Northamptonshire Council One Angel Square Angel Street Northampton NN1 1ED
Hearings take place	Primary school: Every effort will be made to convene on-time appeals within 40 school days from the closing date for lodging appeals, however, there may be delays due to limitations of video conferencing facilities. Appeals will be scheduled at the earliest possible date. Secondary school: Every effort will be made to convene on time appeals within 40 school days from the closing date for lodging appeals, however, there may be delays due to limitations of video conferencing facilities. Appeals will be scheduled at the earliest possible date. In-year transfers: appeals lodged outside the normal admission round will be convened within 30 school days, where possible, following receipt of your appeal form, or at the earliest possible date. Sixth form: appeals will be heard within 30 school days following the confirmation of examination results, where applicable, or otherwise within 40 school days from the date of lodging an appeal where possible. Late appeals: Late co-ordinated appeals will be heard alongside on-time appeals wherever possible. Every effort will be made to hear late appeals before the end of the school year, but if this is not possible, they will be convened at the earliest possible time in the new school year. Appeals are not usually convened during school holidays due to the unavailability of school representatives.
Parents will receive written notification of appeal date	At least 10 school days before the date of appeal. (You may waive your right to this notice period if it will help to speed up your appeal, but a quicker appeal cannot be guaranteed). Appeals for the same school and year group must be heard together and by the same panel.
The clerk (or the person organising the appeal) sends appeal papers to parents, the panel and the school	7 working days before the appeal hearing. No further documents will be posted after this date.
Appeal hearing decision	Decisions will be made after all appeals have been heard for the particular school. Decision letters will be sent at the earliest possible time and where possible, within 5 School days following decisions. In the case of multiple appeals or in busy times, please allow up to 10 school days for decision letters to be sent.

Action

Deadline

Appeals need to be submitted

Primary school: No later than 5pm on 15 May 2026

Secondary school: No later than 5pm on 27 March 2026

Sixth form: Where offers of places are conditional upon GCSE examination results, appeals for admission to sixth forms cannot be heard until after GCSE. results are known

Late appeals: No deadline

Parents' additional evidence must be submitted

Within 10 school days of submitting their appeal by email to: [email protected]

or by post to:

Appeals Team, Democratic Services
West Northamptonshire Council
One Angel Square
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

Hearings take place

Primary school: Every effort will be made to convene on-time appeals within 40 school days from the closing date for lodging appeals, however, there may be delays due to limitations of video conferencing facilities. Appeals will be scheduled at the earliest possible date.

Secondary school: Every effort will be made to convene on time appeals within 40 school days from the closing date for lodging appeals, however, there may be delays due to limitations of video conferencing facilities. Appeals will be scheduled at the earliest possible date.

In-year transfers: appeals lodged outside the normal admission round will be convened within 30 school days, where possible, following receipt of your appeal form, or at the earliest possible date.

Sixth form: appeals will be heard within 30 school days following the confirmation of examination results, where applicable, or otherwise within 40 school days from the date of lodging an appeal where possible.

Late appeals: Late co-ordinated appeals will be heard alongside on-time appeals wherever possible. Every effort will be made to hear late appeals before the end of the school year, but if this is not possible, they will be convened at the earliest possible time in the new school year. Appeals are not usually convened during school holidays due to the unavailability of school representatives.

Parents will receive written notification of appeal date

At least 10 school days before the date of appeal. (You may waive your right to this notice period if it will help to speed up your appeal, but a quicker appeal cannot be guaranteed).

Appeals for the same school and year group must be heard together and by the same panel.

The clerk (or the person organising the appeal) sends appeal papers to parents, the panel and the school

7 working days before the appeal hearing.

No further documents will be posted after this date.

Appeal hearing decision

Decisions will be made after all appeals have been heard for the particular school.

Decision letters will be sent at the earliest possible time and where possible, within 5 School days following decisions. In the case of multiple appeals or in busy times, please allow up to 10 school days for decision letters to be sent.

Last updated 12 February 2026