National Offers Day: The Nottinghamshire school place appeal success rates

More than 1,000 parents in Nottinghamshire went on to appeal their child’s school place offer – but only around one in four were successful.

There were 1,093 appeals heard in Nottinghamshire in relation to places for September 2020 from parents unhappy with what they had been offered.

Of those heard, just 28% went in the parent’s favour.

But that figure was actually higher than the national average, which saw just 19% of appeals succeed.

Most of the appeals are likely to relate to offers made on National Offer Days for entry to Reception and Year 7, although some will be for children transferring to a different school.

Tuesday, March 1 is when offers for secondary school places are sent out, with primary school offers sent out on April 18.

For secondary school places, 667 appeals were heard in Nottinghamshire relating to places for September 2020 – the most recent figures available.

Of those heard, 212 were successful, or 32%.

There were 426 appeals heard in relation to primary school places in Nottinghamshire.

Of the appeals that were heard, just 92 – or 22% – were successful.

Applicants can lodge appeals against any school at which they have not been awarded a place, but not all appeals reach the stage of being heard by a panel – some, for example, are withdrawn.

The heard rate is therefore a better measure of the general appeal rate.

The number of appeals being lodged and heard has been falling in England – and they’re less likely to be successful.

There were 11,239 appeals heard in relation to primary places starting in September 2020 in England.

That compares to 12,465 the previous year, according to the figures published by the Department for Education.

The number has fallen from 22,820 in 2015.

Across England, 1,823 appeals went in the parent’s favour, a success rate of 16%.

That was the lowest proportion since figures began in 2015.

At secondary level, 29,871 appeals were heard in relation to September 2020 places.

That was down from 35,648 the year before, although numbers are still up in comparison to 22,964 in 2015 and 25,290 in 2016.

The success rate was 20%, down from 22% for appeals relating to September 2019 starts, and the lowest level recorded in the time series, which goes back to 2004.

You can read our guide on how to appeal your child’s school place decision here.

To sign up for the Nottinghamshire Live newsletter click here