I shall be on Radio Kent between 8 and 9 in the morning of Wednesday March 2nd, and possibly later on, answering questions and talking about transfer patterns and issues.

Decisions arrive by email for those who have applied electronically after 4 p.m. on March 1st. With some 80% of the 20,000 children involved in Kent and Medway having completed online applications, this can still be a lengthy process, with some families waiting several hours for their decision. All applicants will have a letter posted on that day aimed to arrive by post on March 2nd setting out the school allocated and the procedure if you wish to appeal for a school you have not been offered.

Please note, if you now wish to apply for a new school in Kent that you have not previously listed, there is a new system forcing you to go through the bureaucratically cumbersome In Year Admission process, details here, or from KCC.  For Medway it appears much quicker, a complete turn around from two years ago when you couldn't even apply for new schools at this stage.

I am already arranging consultations for clients, so please contact me as soon as you know the school to which you have been allocated. Remember, the minimum you need to do to appeal is to write on the form provided:  "I am appealing for a place for my child (name) at (name) school. A more detailed letter will follow". This enables you to take your time over putting your appeal together without needing to rush to meet deadlines.

Several firms of Kent solicitors are now offering appeal services at fees which appear to be some £160 per hour or more. Please remember that preparing school appeals are not primarily legal matters. I believe my own experience of over 600 successful school appeals over the past eight years, together with my extensive knowledge of admission and appeals matters across Kent and Medway is a strong recommendation in itself.