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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2 April 2026 at 4pm
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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15 May 2026 at 4pm
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 July 2026
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Primary appeals will take place from
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June to July 2026
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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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By 12 noon at least five school days before the hearing. You are advised that additional paperwork received after this (including 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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This will be sent until up to 15 school days after the last hearing for all the appeals held for that particular school.
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Secondary Transfer Appeals Schedule 2026
| School | Grouped Appeal Date | Appeal Hearing Date |
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| St Paul's Way Trust |
Thursday 23 April 2026 5pm
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Monday 27 April - Friday 1 May 2026
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| Central Foundation |
Monday 27 April 2026 8.30am
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Monday 27 April 2026
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| Mulberry Girls |
Monday 11 May 2026 8.30am
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Monday 11 - Tuesday 12 May 2026
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| Morpeth |
Thursday 14 May 2026 8.30am
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Thursday 14 - Friday 15 May 2026
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| Swanlea |
Monday 18 May 2026 8.30am
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Monday 18 - Tuesday 19 May 2026
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| Stepney All Saints |
Monday 1 June 2026 8.30am
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Monday 1 - Wednesday 3 June 2026
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| Mulberry Stepney Green |
Monday 8 June 2026
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Monday 8 June 2026
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| Langdon Park |
Monday 8 June 2026
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Monday 8 June 2026
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| George Green |
Thursday 11 June 2026
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Thursday 11 June 2026
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| Canary Wharf College |
Thursday 11 June 2026
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Thursday 11 June 2026
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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 2025
| School | Number of appeals | Successful |
|---|
| Central Foundation |
9
|
1 |
|---|
| George Greens |
5
|
0 |
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| Langdon Park |
0
|
0
|
|---|
| Morpeth |
6
|
0
|
|---|
| Mulberry Girls |
17
|
1
|
|---|
| Mulberry Stepney Green |
18
|
0 |
|---|
| St Pauls Way |
63
|
0
|
|---|
| Stepney All Saints |
34
|
1
|
|---|
| Swanlea |
32
|
1
|
|---|
Appeal outcomes for admission in Reception in 2025
| School | Number of appeals | Successful |
|---|
| Bigland Green |
8
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0
|
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| Bygrove |
5
|
0
|
|---|
| Cubitt Town |
1
|
0
|
|---|
| Globe |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Marion Richardson |
2
|
0
|
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| Globe |
3
|
0
|
|---|
| Mulberry Wood Wharf |
2
|
0
|
|---|
| Olga |
3
|
0
|
|---|
Appeals for voluntary aided or free schools
If you are appealing for one of the schools below, you should appeal via the school:
- 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