When to Apply for a School Place

It is essential that you check the exact date your school application needs to be in with the admission authority - if you miss the deadline, you may not be offered a place at your preferred school. Local authorities publish an information booklet for parents about how to apply for a school place along with details of deadline dates; this is distributed to parents in the summer and is also made available in the local public library.

Primary School

You will usually need to apply for a primary school place well before your child reaches the age of five; most local authorities ask you to apply for a place in the autumn the year before your child is due to start school, when they are three or four years old.

Secondary School

If your child will be attending secondary school, you should start choosing your preferred school when your child enters Year 6. The majority of local authorities set a deadline in November or December for your application form to reach them. You will be informed in writing which school your child has been allocated to at the beginning of March the following year.