Primary school admissions Newcastle 2022: how to appeal school place after National Offer Day decision

Parents across England will receive the decision on their child’s primary school placement on 19 April.

While the majority of children will be placed in one of their preferred schools, some parents may not be happy with their child’s placement.

So what can parents do if they do not receive a suitable placement, and how can they appeal the decision?

Here’s everything you need to know about the appeals process.

When is National Offer Day?

National Offer Day for primary school placements is 19 April 2022.

This is a nationwide event when children across Newcastle and England will receive their placements for the upcoming academic year, which begins in September 2022.

Where can I find out about my offer?

Parents in Newcastle who applied online will be able to log in to the Newcastle City Council website on 19 April to find out their child’s placement.

Parents will also be sent an email directing them to the portal where they can view their official offers.

For parents who applied via post, offers will be sent out via second class post on 19 April so it will be received in the coming days.

Parents in Gateshead who applied online will get an email on National Offer Day with their official placement confirmation.

Every applicant in Gateshead will receive a version of their offers in the form of a letter, which were posted on 14 April.

How can I appeal my child’s school place?

Once you receive your official placement you will be able to appeal the decision.

Parents in Newcastle are advised to contact the school appeals clerk at Newcastle City Council.

You can contact the clerk via phone on 0191 277 7427 and leave a message or by email to [email protected]

Some schools in the city may conduct their own appeal hearings. The appeals clerk will be able to advise further if this is the case.

For schools in Gateshead, the offer letter you receive will have information on how to appeal the decision.

You can also contact the School Admissions Team to request an official appeal form. Send your completed appeal form to Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HH.

How long do I have to appeal the decision?

You legally have 20 days from the offer date to appeal the decision of your child’s placement.

What can I expect from an appeal hearing?

Following confirmation of your appeal you will be given at least 10 school days’ notice of the date and time of the hearing.

Before the hearing, the clerk will send a copy of the information the admission authority will present at the hearing - this will include why your child did not receive a place.

You must submit any further evidence to support your case at least seven days before the hearing. Evidence after this timeframe will not be considered.

The appeal is broken up into two stages. According to Newcastle government website Stage 1 is as follows:

1. Case for the admission authority (If there are a lot of appeals for the same school year group, all parents/carers who have submitted an appeal are invited to attend this part of the hearing together, but will put the case for their own child separately)
2. Questioning by you (the appellant) and panel

After this, Stage 2 will go through the following steps:

1. Case for the appellant – this is your chance to present your case
2. Questioning by the admission authority and panel
3. Summing up by admission authority
4. Summing up by you (the appellant)

After your appeal the clerk will usually write to you within 5 working days of the hearing advising you of the appeal panel decision and their reasoning.

How can I contact the School admissions office?

You can get in touch with School Admissions office for Newcastle City Council with the following information:

Contact telephone number: 0191 2787878 email: [email protected]

You can contact the School admissions office for Gateshead via the Gateshead council website.