Primary School Offers: What to Do if You Didn’t Get Your First Preference

Now that you have received your child’s primary school place allocation - it’s time to consider your next steps.

For many, it will be a moment of celebration and relief. But if your child hasn’t been given a place at your first preference school, it can feel disappointing.

So let’s look at the process to help you feel more in control. It is important to note that each Local Authority operates differently, so check the guidance you are given. I also can’t give advice - you know your context better than me - but I can help demystify the system.

First, the bigger picture

It’s completely natural to feel a sense of loss when you don’t get your preferred school—especially after spending time researching, visiting, and imagining your child there. 

But it can help to keep a few important things in mind:

• Most schools are more similar than different. From the outside, schools can feel very different. But once your child is in a classroom, the experience is often remarkably similar: a warm, welcoming environment where children learn to read, make friends, and discover the world around them.

• Schools change. A lot. Staff move on, leadership teams change, intake shifts. The ‘feel’ of a school evolves year by year. That means the school you didn’t get might not be exactly as you imagined, and the one you did get might offer more than you realised.

• You’ll never know the counterfactual. It’s easy to dwell on the “what ifs,” but there’s no way to truly know how things would have turned out at your first choice. Many families who felt unsure at this stage go on to be deeply happy at a school they hadn’t originally considered.

  
  

What can you do now?

If you didn’t get your first preference, you still have options. Here’s a breakdown of what you can do next:

1. Accept the offered place

Even if you’re hoping for a different school, it’s usually best to accept the place you’ve been offered—unless you have a guaranteed alternative. Accepting doesn't affect your ability to go on waiting lists or appeal, and it ensures your child has a school place in September.

2. Join waiting lists

You can usually join the waiting list for any school, not just the ones on your original application. Your child will be added to the list based on the school’s admissions criteria—not how early you apply—so don’t worry if you didn’t get straight onto it.

Waiting lists are held until at least December in most areas, and places often become available as families move or change plans. Things can shift right up until term starts—and even after.

3. Consider submitting an appeal

If you feel strongly that your child should have a place at a particular school, you have the right to appeal. Here's how it works:

Step-by-step guide to the appeals process:

• Submit your appeal by the deadline. This will be listed in your local authority’s letter or email. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and keep a copy of everything you send.

• Understand the legal test. For infant classes (Reception to Year 2), the appeal will usually be heard under “infant class size legislation.” That means appeals can only be upheld in very specific circumstances—like if a mistake was made in the admissions process or if the decision was "unreasonable" in a legal sense (a very high bar).

• Prepare your case. Be clear, concise, and focused. If you believe there was a mistake—for example, your address was recorded incorrectly—gather the relevant evidence. If your case is based on social or medical need, include letters from professionals.

• Attend the hearing (if you can). This is your chance to explain your case in person (or via video). It’s usually informal, and the panel understands this is a stressful time for parents. Be honest and calm—they are there to listen.

Rejecting your school allocation does not usually strengthen your appeal case — and in fact, it can leave you without a guaranteed place if your appeal is unsuccessful.

Here’s how it works:

• You can usually accept the offered school and still appeal for a different one. This is the recommended route.

• If you reject the offer, you are not given special consideration in the appeals process.

• Appeals are decided on specific criteria, such as whether the school has applied its admissions policy fairly and whether there are exceptional reasons your child needs a place.

• If your appeal fails and you’ve rejected your offered school, you may be left without a place — and the council isn’t obliged to offer that school again.

So, unless you have already secured another school place, it’s usually best to accept the offer to ensure your child has a place in September, while you pursue your appeal or join waiting lists.

Is an appeal worth it?

Ask yourself:

• Do you have a realistic chance?Appeals are difficult to win, especially for popular schools. Success rates vary by area and school type (e.g. infant class size appeals are particularly tough — more below).

• Is there a strong, specific reason your child needs this school?General preferences (e.g. “it’s a good school,” “my child would thrive there”) usually aren’t enough.

• Is it worth the stress?Appeals can be time-consuming and emotionally draining. It's worth weighing up the odds and whether you'd be better focusing on the allocated school or waiting list strategies.

  
  

What makes a strong appeal case?

It depends on the type of appeal, but here are some general principles:

a) Infant Class Size Appeals (Reception, Year 1, Year 2)

These are the hardest to win because classes are legally capped at 30 per teacher.

To win, you have to prove one of the following:

• The admission arrangements were not properly followed.

• The arrangements didn’t comply with the law.

• The decision to refuse a place was unreasonable in a legal sense (a very high bar).

Most appeals in this category are unsuccessful unless there's a clear error.

b) Other Years (Year 3 and above)

Panels have more flexibility and can consider:

• Medical or social needs that only this school can meet.

• Sibling links that weren’t considered.

• Logistical hardships (e.g. two schools in opposite directions, caring responsibilities).

• Mistakes in how your application was handled.

3. How to prepare

If you decide to appeal:

• Gather evidence: Medical letters, childcare evidence, SEN reports, transport details, etc.

• Be specific: Why this school? Why not the one offered? What makes your situation exceptional?

• Stay respectful: Appeals panels are impartial — your job is to help them understand your case clearly and calmly.

Finally: Give the offered school a chance

It's okay to feel unsure. But once the dust settles, many families find they grow to love a school they hadn’t initially considered. Children are incredibly adaptable, and your support and positivity will help them thrive wherever they go.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure what to do next, you're not alone. This is one of the most emotionally charged parts of the school journey.

Want more support? Our Navigating Primary School Transition Course offers calm, clear guidance to help you support your child through the transition, understand how schools work, and make the most of your school place—wherever it is. You can pre-register for the course here: https://forms.gle/YhcexEWydgiU9JZCA