Appeal Process
APPEAL GUIDANCE
If you have not been successful in gaining a place for your child at OPGS for September into Year 7, please read the guidance below carefully.
If your son is due to start Year 7 in September 2023 you can appeal if you have been refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer day between 1st March – 28th March 2023. This will ensure that your appeal will be heard in the main round appeals to be considered by 16th June 2023.
For applications made in the normal admission round, appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals. For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 schools days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeals being lodged.
We recommend that you complete our form below as soon as possible. Once completed please send to appeals@opgs.org, with any supporting documentation you decide is necessary or relevant. Please send any other documents you feel relevant to your appeal to KCC Secondary Appeals Team by 2nd May 2023 at the latest.
KCC have advised that if you intend lodging an appeal, you should still send the acceptance form back to the school that you were offered. If your appeal is upheld and you are offered a place at OPGS for your son, you will then need to withdraw your acceptance from the initial school accepted. This is to ensure that if your appeal is not upheld your son will still have a place at a school in September.
Click here for KCC's guidance for parents on appeals.
Click here for Head Teacher Assessment Panel Guidance.
Complete our appeal form and return it to the Appeals Officer, Mrs J Nichol at OPGS or email it to appeals@opgs.org
Appeal hearings usually take 30 minutes and are held Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 4:30pm.
KCC Appeals will send you the details and a copy of the school’s case at least 10 school days before the hearing.
You have the right to a face-to-face meeting. If you would prefer your case to be heard in your absence, please notify the school as soon as possible.
DECISION
KCC will write to tell you the panel’s decision as soon as possible after the hearing. KCC cannot tell you the decision by telephone.
KEY DATES
Tuesday, 18th October 2022 - Kent Test assessment decisions sent to parents.
Monday, 31st October 2022 - The online application process closes for the main round. Any amendments after this date must be emailed to kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk
Wednesday, 1st March 2023 - National Offer Day: KCC offer emailed/posted to parents/carers.
Friday, 3rd March 2023 - OPGS to email/post offers to parents/carers.
Wednesday, 15th March 2023 - Deadline for OPGS places to be accepted or declined.
Tuesday, 28th March 2023 - OPGS Main round appeals must be lodged by 1st March - 28th March 2023 to guarantee that the appeal will be heard in our main round appeals to be considered by 16th June 2023. Any appeals received after this date will be heard within 40 school days.
