How to appeal
For own admission authority schools you will need to lodge your appeal directly with the school. A link to the school’s appeal form on their website can be found in a list below.
For community and controlled schools there is a two-step process to appealing:
- complete the appeal enquiry form below
- you will then receive an email with a link to complete your appeal form online
You must follow both steps in the process above to submit your appeal online. Completing the enquiry form alone is not considered an appeal.
You must clearly state your reasons for your appeal on the form and provide any supporting evidence.
You must put your child's name on anything you send us so we know who it is for. You can submit more information later on if you need to.
You need to send any supporting evidence you wish to be considered in advance of the appeal hearing. We may blank out other people's faces or personal details on documents you send to us.
For schools that have their own appeal forms, you will need to send any supporting evidence directly to them.
Schools which have their own appeal forms and do not accept our appeal form are:
- Alford John Spendluffe Technology College
- Alford Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar
- Bassingham Primary School
- Blyton Cum Laughton C of E School
- Boston Grammar School
- Boston High School
- Boston St Mary's RC Primary Voluntary Academy
- Boston St Nicholas Church of England Primary School
- Boston St Thomas' CE Primary Academy
- Bourne Abbey Academy
- Bourne Elsea Park Academy
- Bourne Grammar School
- Bourne Westfield Primary Academy
- Bracebridge Heath St John’s Primary Academy
- Branston Junior Academy
- Caistor Grammar School
- Caythorpe Primary School
- Cherry Willingham Priory Pembroke Academy
- Cherry Willingham The Priory Pembroke Academy
- Colsterworth CofE Primary School
- Corby Glen Charles Read Academy
- Deeping St James Linchfield Academy
- Deeping St James The Deepings School
- Friskney All Saints Church of England Primary School
- Gainsborough Castle Wood Academy
- Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy
- Gainsborough Mercer's Wood Academy
- Gainsborough The Gainsborough Academy
- Gainsborough White's Wood Academy
- Grantham Huntingtower CP Academy
- Grantham Little Gonerby CE Primary Academy
- Grantham Poplar Farm School
- Grantham Priory Ruskin Academy
- Grantham St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Grantham The King's School
- Grantham The West Grantham C of E Primary Academy
- Grantham Walton Academy
- Gipsey Bridge Academy
- Heighington Millfield Primary Academy
- Holbeach Bank Academy
- Holbeach Primary Academy
- Horbling Brown's Church of England Primary School
- Horncastle Banovallum School
- Ingoldmells Academy
- Ingoldsby Academy
- Leadenham Church of England Primary School
- Lincoln Bishop King C of E Primary School
- Lincoln Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School
- Lincoln Manor Leas Infant School
- Lincoln Our Lady of Lincoln Catholic Primary School
- Lincoln St Hugh's Catholic Primary School
- Lincoln St Peter and St Paul Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Lincoln The Priory Academy LSST
- Lincoln The Priory City of Lincoln Academy
- Lincoln The Priory Witham Academy
- Long Bennington Church of England Academy
- Long Sutton Primary School
- Louth Academy
- Louth King Edward VI Grammar School
- Mablethorpe Primary Academy
- Manor Leas Junior Academy
- Marton The Marton Academy
- Nettleham C of E Aided Junior School
- Nettleham Infant School
- North Hykeham Ling Moor Primary School
- North Hykeham Manor Farm School
- North Hykeham Sir Robert Pattinson Academy
- Pinchbeck East C of E Primary Academy
- Ruskington Chestnut Street CofE Primary Academy
- Skegness Academy
- Skegness Beacon Primary Academy
- Skegness Grammar School
- Skegness Infant Academy
- Skegness Junior Academy
- Sleaford Carre’s Grammar School
- Sleaford Kesteven and Sleaford High School
- Sleaford Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School
- Sleaford William Alvey C of E School
- Somercotes Academy
- Spalding Primary Academy
- Spalding St Norbert's Catholic Voluntary Academy
- Spilsby Primary School
- Stamford Malcolm Sargent Primary School
- Stamford St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
- Theddlethorpe Academy
- Tydd St Mary CE Primary School
- Utterby Primary Academy
- Waddington Redwood Primary Academy
- Wainfleet Magdalen C of E Methodist Primary School
- Welton William Farr C of E Comprehensive School
- Woodhall Spa St Andrew's C of E Primary School
- Wyberton Primary Academy
To appeal to a school in another local authority, go to the school's website for information on how to do this.
Timetable for offer dates and appeals
Secondary schools:
- national offer day - 3 March 2025
- deadline - 31 March 2024
Primary schools:
- national offer day - 16 April 2025
- deadline - 14 May 2024
Appeals will be heard after the appeal deadlines.
Schools that organise their own appeals may use different dates. Visit the school's website for more information.
Infant class size appeals
Where an infant class (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) has 30 children already, panels are limited on what they can consider at an appeal.
Grammar school appeals
If you wish to appeal your child's 11+ score, you must show that they should have met the required standard. As evidence of this, you could send the following:
If the school is full and your child did not qualify, you must show why your child should have qualified. If something affected testing, you might wish to send details and evidence.
If the school is full and the panel believe your child should have passed, it does not mean they will grant a place. The panel will consider the school's case and then decide. You will need to show that your case outweighs the school's case.
Sixth form appeals
The parent, carer or young person can appeal for sixth form appeals. Contact the school directly for more information.
You must show that they or you can cope with the workload and were expected to reach the required standard.
- a school report
- written work (artwork may not photocopy well)
- a teacher or headteacher's supporting letter