National Offer Day 2023: When do you find out primary school offers in Bristol - how to appeal a decision

National Offer Day is just around the corner. A time when parents in Bristol will find out which primary schools have offered their child a place for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Applications for places opened in September and parents have been anxiously awaiting a final decision ever since the deadline for applications passed. Hoping that a place at their preferred school, whether that be because of its quality of education or location, is secured and they can start planning ahead.

Sadly for some Bristolian families, applications for primary school places can be rejected, which may leave you worrying about what to do next. But there’s no need for panic stations just yet, as every parent has the right to appeal.

Here is everything you need to know about National Offer Day 2023 for primary schools in Bristol. This includes when it is and how to appeal a decision.

When is National Offer Day 2023 - date primary school places are sent out

Parents are set to find out which primary school has offered their child a place for September 2023 on National Offer Day 2023. This is on Monday, April 17.

The decision will be sent by Bristol City Council by letter or email. Some councils allow parents to view their results through the admissions portal or system, while the exact time the offers are released varies - contact your local council for further details.

Can I appeal a decision and how?

If your child has not been allocated a place at their preferred primary school in Bristol, or you are for whatever reason unhappy with the selection of schools offered to your child, you have the right to officially appeal the decision. To achieve this, you should issue the appeal to the schools admissions board at Bristol City Council.

You have 20 days from when you receive the decision to issue an appeal. Note that if you are appealing multiple different decisions, you must appeal each rejection separately.

You will then receive notice of an appeals hearing, in which you must be given a notice of at least 10 school days. You will put your case forward to an independent panel within 40 days of the deadline for making an appeal, which in Bristol is June 5.

How to contact the schools admission team

When appealing a decision, it must be sent in writing to the Bristol City Council school admissions office. It is recommended that you do so via email to [email protected].

You can also reach the team through telephone by phoning 0117 903 7694 - operating hours are 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9 am to 4:30 pm (Friday). You can also submit a school admissions contact form on the Bristol City Council website.