* At Valley Park, a further 66 children who appealed were offered places in advance.

Kent County Council Appeal Panels also heard cases for 15 local primary schools, all being unsuccessful, bar a small number at St Peter’s Aylesford which had a few spaces to take its intake up to 30.

Coronavirus has affected appeals in two different ways. Previously all cases were held face to face; in 2020 none were. Whilst in some parts of the county appeals were heard by video or telephone conferencing, all the schools in Maidstone used a remote paper-based approach where panels looked at written evidence. It is clear that some non-selective schools successfully argued to Appeal Panels against admitting extra children, foreseeing difficulties with overcrowding and social distancing.  As a result, the success rate across Kent fell from 24% to 15%. Valley Park, the most oversubscribed non-selective school in the county for the second consecutive year, usually offers additional places after the additional allocations. 

Most grammar school appellants have to argue the child is of grammar school ability the success rate falling from 29% to 27%, but some schools were reluctant to expand to meet demand this year with, for example, the Oakwood Park Panel placing some appellants on a waiting list.     

You will find the history of appeal outcomes for every Kent secondary school only at www.kentadvice.co.uk