Applying for a place at a school/setting for 5 to 16 year olds
Applications open on different days in each .
Applying for a primary school place
Children in Â鶹ÊÓƵ can start school (Reception) in the September after their fourth birthday.
Example: If your child was born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020, they will be able to start school in September 2024.
Applications in Â鶹ÊÓƵ open on 1 October and will close on the following 15 January for entry in September of the same year.
Read more about applying for reception class or a primary school.
Attendance at a nursery class does not give a child automatic priority for a place.
Do not wait until the child is 5 years old, as your preferred school may already be full.
For information about starting a child at school in Â鶹ÊÓƵ, visit the School Admissions webpage.
The responsibility for applying online for a child to start reception class remains solely with the person that has parental responsibility.
School place offers
Councils will send offers of school places for primary schools on 16 April or the next working day if that falls on a weekend or bank holiday.
Infant to junior transition
In Â鶹ÊÓƵ, if the child attends a primary school it is not necessary for you to apply for a junior school place. The child will automatically transfer to Year 3 at the same school.
However, if the child attends infant school, the parent or carer must apply to transfer them to another school for their junior education.
If there are more applications than places, priority will be given to looked after (children in care) or previously looked after children.
More information can be found on our transfer from infant to junior or primary school page.
Applying for a secondary school place
Read more about applying for a place at secondary school
The transition from primary to secondary school is an important life transition that can affect children’s attainment and wellbeing in the longer term.
It is important to check the admissions arrangements for your preferred schools.
Looked after and previously looked after children are not always given the highest priority if a school receives more applicants than they have places available. This mainly applies to certain faith schools.
You must apply through your local authority for a place at a secondary school, even if it’s linked to your child’s current primary school.
Normal secondary school admissions are at 11+ into year 7. The social worker and carer should consult with Â鶹ÊÓƵ Virtual School to make sure that the setting chosen is suitable for the child and transition support can be put in place.
Supplementary information
Some schools will ask you to send additional information to them. They will provide supplementary information forms for this.
Once you have submitted the information form to the school, make sure you also submit your online application, or you will not be considered for a place at that school.
Deadline for applications
The deadline for applying is 31 October for a place at secondary school starting the following September.
Your child is less likely to be offered a place at one of their preferred schools if you miss the deadline for applications.
School place offers
Councils will send notifications of secondary school offers on 1 March. If this date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers will be sent on the next working day.
If we offer a school place, acceptance is assumed unless a parent/carer refuses the place by the given deadline.
Other councils may require parents/carers to formally accept the place by the deadline given. If they do not, the place may be withdrawn and given to another child.
In Â鶹ÊÓƵ, if your child does not meet the criteria for any of your preferred schools, your child will be placed at one of the nearest schools with a place available after all preferences have been considered.
Page last updated: 15 May 2024