School appeal hearing dates (September 2026 intake)
By law we must publish the dates on which appeals for September intake admissions will be heard.
These are provisional dates and are subject to change. Days could be added to or cancelled depending on the volume of appeals lodged and panel/clerk availability.
The deadline to submit an appeal is:
- 22 May 2026 for primary Reception appeals
- 31 March 2026 for secondary Year 7 appeals
Any appeals submitted after the deadline may be heard after all on time appeals have been heard.
An appeals officer will be in touch with you before the hearing date and will provide full details.
Academy and free school appeals will be scheduled along with the relevant voluntary aided district dates.
| District | Hearing date |
|---|---|
| West Lancs voluntary aided secondary | 5 and 6 May 2026 |
| Preston/South Ribble voluntary aided secondary | 5 to 8 May 2026 and 11 to 15 May 2026 |
| Lancaster voluntary aided secondary | 5 to 8 May 2026 |
| Fylde voluntary aided secondary | 7 and 8 May 2026 |
| Lancaster community secondary | 11 May 2026 |
| Wyre voluntary aided secondary | 11 to 15 May 2026 |
| Burnley/Pendle voluntary aided secondary | 11 to 15 May 2026 |
| Rossendale voluntary aided secondary | 14 and 15 May 2026 |
| Hyndburn/Ribble Valley voluntary aided secondary | 18 to 22nd May 2026 and 1 to 5 June 2026 |
| Chorley voluntary aided secondary | 18 to 22nd May 2026 and 1 to 5 June 2026 |
| Fylde community secondary | 19 May 2026 |
| Hyndburn/Ribble Valley community secondary | 26 May to 28 May 2026 |
| Preston/South Ribble/West Lancs/Chorley community secondary | 1 to 5 June 2026 and 8 to 12 June 2026 |
| Wyre community secondary | 8 to 12 June 2026 |
| Rossendale community secondary | 8 to 12 June 2026 |
| Pendle community secondary | 15 to 17 June 2026 |
| Rossendale voluntary aided primary | 15 and 16 June 2026 |
| Lancaster voluntary aided primary | 15 and 16 June 2026 |
| Wyre voluntary aided primary | 15 to 19 June 2026 |
| Preston/South Ribble/Chorley/West Lancs voluntary aided primary | 22 to 26 June 2026 and 29 June to 3 July 2026 |
| Burnley/Pendle voluntary aided primary | 22 to 26 June 2026 |
| Fylde voluntary aided primary | 29 and 30 June 2026 |
| Wyre community primary | 29 June to 3 July 2026 |
| Fylde community primary | 1 and 2 July 2026 |
| Preston/South Ribble/Chorley/West Lancs community primary | 6 to 10 July 2026 |
| Hyndburn/Ribble valley voluntary aided primary | 6 to 10 July 2026 |
| Burnley/Pendle/Rossendale community primary | 6 to 10 July 2026 |
| Lancaster community primary | 13 and 14 July 2026 |
| Hyndburn/Ribble valley community primary | 13 to 17 July 2026 |