Primary and Secondary School Admissions and Appeals: A Guide for Parents

Applying for school places can take time and effort. This guide will help parents through the admissions process and clear up any confusion about how it works.

To make sure everything’s managed fairly, schools and local authorities must follow strict rules. These rules, set out in the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code, protect the rights of parents and those of their children. They only apply to state schools and Academies and not to other independent/private schools.

The Codes are legally binding. If a parent believes their school or local authority has not followed the rules, they can refer their case to their local authority or object directly to the Schools Adjudicator.

View the Schools Admissions area on the DCSF website