Grammar-school appeals: a parent’s guide

Most 11+ results are released in early or mid-October, before the national secondary-school application deadline of 31 October. Exact test and result dates are local, so check the current timetable for your area.

If you may request a local review or later appeal, name the grammar school on the CAF. Also include realistic non-grammar choices. A test pass does not guarantee a place, and leaving a school off the CAF normally means there is no refusal of that preference to appeal.

Check the admissions policy immediately. Some areas offer a selection review before places are allocated; others do not. Where one exists, the deadline can be short.

A review usually needs strong academic evidence and, where relevant, evidence of exceptional circumstances that affected the test. It is not a second test and does not guarantee a place.

Buckinghamshire operates a Selection Review for children who did not automatically qualify. Bexley also has a local review process requested through the child’s headteacher. These are local examples, not national rules.

You appeal after the admission authority refuses a place—not simply because the 11+ result was lower than expected. The refusal letter explains who handles the appeal and the deadline. Admission authorities must allow at least 20 school days to submit it.

An appeal may argue that a non-qualified child meets the required academic standard, that a previous local review was not fair, consistent and objective, that the admission rules were applied incorrectly, or that the family’s case for admission outweighs the prejudice the school says another pupil would cause.

A qualified child can still be refused because the school is oversubscribed. In that situation, explain the specific educational, medical or social reasons for needing that particular school.

• Non-qualification: show strong evidence of grammar-school academic ability.
• Unsuccessful local review: explain why the process was not fair, consistent or objective where the local rules make this relevant.
• Qualified but school full: explain why the child’s need for that school outweighs the school’s case.
• Incorrect application of the policy: identify the error and show that a place would otherwise have been offered.

Evidence should create a clear connection: what happened, when it happened, how it affected the test or application, and why the child’s normal academic standard is higher than the result suggests.

Medical, special-needs or exceptional-circumstance evidence does not by itself prove grammar-school ability. A non-qualified appeal still needs convincing academic evidence.

• Academic: recent reports, attainment or assessment data, predicted performance and a teacher or headteacher statement.
• Health or medical: appropriate professional evidence explaining the condition, timing and likely effect.
• Special educational needs: evidence of the child’s needs, agreed reasonable adjustments and whether they were provided during testing.
• Exceptional circumstances: evidence of bereavement, serious family disruption, illness during the test or another significant event.
• Particular school: specific educational, medical or social reasons supported by evidence—not only strong results or grammar-school status.

Appeal deadlines and hearing dates vary by admission authority. Follow the date in the refusal letter. On-time secondary appeals are normally arranged so they can be heard before the new school year, but local timetables differ.

Accepting the offered school normally protects your child’s place while you join waiting lists or appeal; it does not usually cancel the appeal. Check the local instructions before declining anything. Waiting lists and appeals are separate processes.

Even if a panel accepts that a child is academically suitable, it may still decide that the school cannot admit another pupil. Appeals should therefore be realistic and supported by evidence.