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The chances of successfully challenging a school admissions decision have fallen to their lowest-ever level, official figures reveal.

Just 15 per cent of primary school appeals and 19.5 per cent of secondary appeals heard for places at the start of 2025-26 were successful, according to published today.

Both are the lowest success rates in any of the years since comparable data collection began in 2016.

The primary success rate fell from 17.7 per cent in 2024-25 and the secondary rate dropped from 19.9 per cent.

Around 1,100 primary admissions appeals were successful, down from 1,595 in 2024-25. And around 5,300 secondary appeals were successful, down from around 5,900.

The number of appeals reaching a panel also fell as pupil numbers continue to decline.

Around 7,600 primary appeals were heard for 2025-26 - the lowest number recorded since equivalent data was first published, and down from 9,000 in 2024-25. This was equivalent to 1 per cent of primary admissions, down from 1.2 per cent in 2024-25 and 2.6 per cent a decade ago.

The overall number of primary admissions fell from around 755,000 in 2024-25 to 734,000.

Some 27,100 secondary appeals were heard, compared with 29,640 in 2024-25, with total admissions falling from around 757,000 to 743,000. The proportion of secondary admissions resulting in an appeal hearing fell from 3.9 per cent to 3.6 per cent.

Parents can withdraw appeals before they are heard, including where a child is offered a place through a waiting list, the DfE said.

Regional differences

The chances of winning an appeal varied across England.

In London, 4.1 per cent of primary appeals and 8.3 per cent of secondary appeals were successful - the lowest rates of any region.

The North East had the highest success rates, at 22.6 per cent for primary appeals and 32.7 per cent for secondary places.

The North West had the highest proportion of secondary admissions reaching an appeal hearing (5.2 per cent), while the South West had the lowest (2.2 per cent).

Academies have most appeals

Appeals to join academies totalled 24,743 for 2025-26 (71.3 per cent of the total), with 19 per cent being successful. The proportion of appeals accounted for by academies is up from 70.5 per cent last year and 69.5 per cent in 2024.

Foundation schools had the highest success rate, with 26.8 per cent of appeals upheld, compared with 14.8 per cent at community and voluntary controlled schools and 18 per cent at voluntary aided schools.

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