School admissions
How to apply
Follow your local council鈥檚 application process to:
You must still apply for a place, even if the school is linked to your child鈥檚 current nursery, infant or primary school.
Apply directly for:
- a 6th form place at a school or college
- a place at a private school
Moving to another area
You apply through your local council even if you鈥檙e applying for schools in another council area or you鈥檝e just moved to England.
If you鈥檙e applying from another country, contact the local council in the area where you鈥檙e going to live.
You may need to:
- supply proof of your new address, for example a mortgage or rental agreement or deeds for the property
- prove that you鈥檒l live in the area before the start of the next school term
Completing the application
When you fill in the form (online or on paper) you鈥檒l be asked to list the schools you鈥檙e applying for in order of preference.
Listing only one school will not increase your chances of getting a place there.
To get a copy of the application form on paper, contact your local council.
When to apply
Applications open on different days in each local council area.
Applying for a primary school place
You must apply for a primary school place a year before your child can start school. The school starting age is 4.聽
Your child will be 3 or have just turned 4 when you apply.
This is true even if you want your child to start later - you鈥檒l be able to ask for a later start when you apply.聽
Applications open in September each year and close on 15 January.
Applying for a secondary school place
Applications usually open on 1 September. You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.
Your child is less likely to be offered a place at their chosen schools if you miss the deadline for applications.
When you鈥檒l find out
Councils will send offers of school places for:
- primary schools on 16 April
- secondary schools on 1 March
If either date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.
You must accept the offer by the deadline given in the offer letter. Otherwise it may be withdrawn and the place given to someone else.
The local council must provide a place at another school, if your child is not offered a place at any of the schools you鈥檝e applied for. This is usually your nearest school with places still available.
Applying after the start of the school year
Contact your local council to find out about applying for a school place once the school year has started (known as in-year applications). They can tell you which schools still have places and how to apply.
Once your child has been offered a place, they will usually start school at the beginning of the following term.