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Brainhub guide

After secondary offer day: accepting, waiting lists and appeals

Secondary school offers came out on Monday 1 March. Whether it is the school you hoped for or not, here is what to do next, in the right order.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why this week

Offers arrived on the evening of Monday 1 March. Most families got a school they chose, but in London about 3 in 10 did not get their first choice. This guide covers the next two weeks.[2]

2. Step 1: accept the place

Reply online by your council’s deadline. Kensington and Chelsea’s 2027 guide gives Monday 15 March 2027, and most London boroughs use a similar date. Keep the confirmation email.[2]

Accept even if it is not the school you wanted. Councils advise that you should not decline unless you already have a place elsewhere, because your child could be left without a school. Accepting does not affect a waiting list or an appeal.[2]

A common worry: Accepting your offer does not mean you are giving up on the school you wanted. You can accept, wait and appeal at the same time.

3. Step 2: check the waiting lists

Your council will usually add your child to the waiting lists for schools you ranked higher than the one you were offered. Schools you ranked lower are dropped, so you would need to ask again to join their lists.[2]

Waiting lists follow each school’s admission rules, not how long you have waited. Positions can move up or down. You may be asked later to confirm you still want a place, so reply when asked.[2]

4. Step 3: decide on an appeal

You can appeal for any school that refused your child a place. Your outcome letter or email gives the deadline. An independent panel hears the appeal, usually in the summer term.[2]

The Department for Education’s latest figures show 34,800 secondary appeals were lodged in England for September 2026 entry, 27,100 were heard and 5,300 succeeded. Some appeals end before a hearing, for example when a place comes up.[1]

Secondary appeals, England, 2026 (DfE)
Number
Lodged
34,800
Heard
27,100
Successful
5,300

5. Look after your child

Children pick up on worry. Talk about the offered school in a positive way, visit it together and look at what it does well. Many children settle quickly once they know a few faces.

Accept, then ask the questions.

Getting ready for Year 7: Our teachers help children build confidence in maths and English before secondary school, online or in person. Book a free call.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. Should you accept an offer while you wait for a better school?

  2. 2. Which waiting lists are you usually kept on?

  3. 3. How many secondary appeals were heard in England in 2026?

Your next steps

  • Accept your offer online and save the confirmation.
  • Check which waiting lists your child is on.
  • Note the appeal deadline in your letter, even if you are not sure yet.

Sources

  1. Department for Education. Admission appeals in England, reporting year 2026 (August 2026). explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/admission-appeals-in-england
  2. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Secondary admissions brochure, September 2027 entry. rbkc.gov.uk/media/document/-rbkc-secondary-admissions-brochure-2027

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.