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<\/picture><\/span>Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBy Hazel Shearing<\/p>\n
Education correspondent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Councils will soon be offering secondary school places to children in England and Wales. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n What are the options if parents are unhappy with the outcome? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In England and Wales, parents who applied online will be sent an email on 1 March with details of how to accept the place, and the deadline for doing so. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Those who did not apply online will be sent a letter. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If they do not accept by the date specified, the offer could be withdrawn and the place given to someone else. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In England<\/b>, if your child is not offered a place at your preferred school, you will usually be offered a place at one of the other schools listed on your application. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If there isn’t space at any of your chosen schools, your child may be offered a place somewhere else. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You can put your child’s name on the waiting list for your preferred school(s) – and these have to remain open for at least the first term of the school year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you are offered a place at a school after being on its waiting list, you can accept even if your child has already started at another school. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In Wales<\/b>, any child not given a place at the school parents have applied for will be added to a waiting list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In Northern Ireland<\/b>, if your child is not offered a place at any of the schools you wanted, you will be asked to choose a new preference from a list of schools that still have places.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In Scotland<\/b>, your council decides which school in your local catchment area your child will attend. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You can ask to choose another school, outside of your local catchment area, and the council must allow this if there is space – but it is not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In England, if your child is not offered a place at the school you wanted, you can appeal within 20 school days, and the case must be heard within 40 days. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The final decision is made by an independent panel at a hearing where the council or school explains why the application was rejected, and the parent makes the case for why their child should be accepted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Councils allocate places according to strict criteria. Looked-after children are given top priority, followed by those with siblings already at the school, and then those who live closest. Some religious schools have additional requirements. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n To appeal successfully, parents have to prove that the proper admissions process was not followed, or that relevant circumstances about their child were not taken into account. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Carers should be informed of the panel’s decision within five days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If the appeal is successful, the child will be given a place. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the child can still be added to the school’s waiting list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Again, the percentage of appeals made has not changed significantly over the same period, although the proportion which were successful has dropped from 26.3% in 2016. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Parents and carers across the UK may be able to get free or lower-cost transport if their child’s school is far away. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Applications need to go through the relevant local education authority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It must offer them a place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you applied for a place after the deadline in England and Wales, your application will not be considered until after national offer day. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This means your child is less likely to get a place at your preferred school. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhen do parents and carers find out about secondary school places?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How do parents and carers accept a school offer?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What if you don’t get the school you want?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/picture><\/noscript><\/span><\/span>Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nCan you appeal if you’re not offered the school you want?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Can I get help with school transport?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What if my child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What if you didn’t apply before the 31 October deadline?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n