How to appeal secondary school place in Oldham 2026

Parents across Oldham are now able to appeal their child's secondary school placement after offers were sent out on March 2. Most families received their first choice school, but those unhappy with the decision have until April 10 to submit an appeal. The process is straightforward but time-sensitive, with hearings scheduled for July 13.

The appeals are handled by an independent panel of three to five members who aren't connected to the local authority or the school in question. Parents can attend hearings via Microsoft Teams or request alternative arrangements if needed. The panel will consider whether the school followed its admission policy correctly and if taking another pupil would cause resource issues.

Four schools in Oldham-Saddleworth, Blue Coat Academy, Brian Clarke Academy, and Radclyffe School-manage their own appeals separately. Parents appealing for these schools need to contact them directly rather than going through Oldham Council. The council's website has detailed information about the process, including what to expect during hearings.

Decisions are final and parents can only appeal once per school each year. This means families need to prepare their case carefully and submit all supporting documents with their initial appeal form. The structured timeline ensures appeals are heard within 40 school days of submission, giving parents a clear window to prepare their arguments.