School Admissions Timeline in England 2026–2027

Missing a key admissions date can push your application to the back of the queue — or rule it out entirely. This guide covers every stage of the primary and secondary school admissions process in England: when applications open, the national deadlines, National Offer Day, appeal windows, in-year admissions, and what to do at each step.

Secondary school (Year 7) — 2025 entry

Children starting secondary school in September 2025 — those born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014 — were in Year 6 during the 2024/25 academic year. Their application round ran as follows:

Secondary school (Year 7) — 2026 entry

Children starting secondary school in September 2026 are currently in Year 5 or early Year 6. The key dates for their application round are:

Primary school (Reception / Year R) — 2025 entry

Children starting Reception in September 2025 — those born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 — applied in the 2024/25 application round. Their timeline was:

Primary school (Reception / Year R) — 2026 entry

Children starting Reception in September 2026 were born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022. Their application round opens in autumn 2025:

What happens between application and offer day?

Once you submit your application, the process runs behind the scenes through the national co-ordinated admissions scheme. Here is what is happening during that window:

• January to February (primary) / November to February (secondary) — local authorities collect all applications, verify addresses, and share data with schools and neighbouring authorities. Schools check for siblings, faith evidence, medical documentation, and any other supporting information
• February (primary and secondary) — the national co-ordinated process runs: each family's preferences are ranked against each school's oversubscription criteria, and the algorithm allocates the highest available preference for each child
• Late February / early March — local authorities finalise offers and prepare communication. Information is embargoed until the official offer day
• Offer day — results are released simultaneously to all applicants, typically via the online portal used to apply, by email, or by first-class post

You cannot find out your result before the official offer day. Calling the local authority in the week before will not get you an early answer.

How to apply: the local authority portal

All state school applications in England go through your home local authority — the council for the area where your child lives — even if some of your preferred schools are in a neighbouring authority. Your local authority runs the co-ordinated admissions scheme and submits your preferences to all relevant schools on your behalf.

To apply, visit your local authority's website and search for "school admissions" or "apply for a school place." You will need:

• Your child's full name, date of birth, and current address
• Your preferences in ranked order (most local authorities allow three to six preferences)
• Any supporting evidence required — for example, a baptism certificate for a faith school, a professional letter confirming medical or social need, or sibling details

You can list schools from other local authority areas in your preferences. The co-ordination process will forward your application to those authorities automatically.

How many school preferences should you list?

You should use all available preference slots. A common mistake is listing only one or two schools in the belief that this signals stronger commitment to a first choice. It does not. The national co-ordination process is preference-blind: schools do not know whether they are your first, third, or fifth preference. Listing only one school means that if you do not receive that place, you may be allocated any school with a remaining place in the area — which could be far from your home or not your preference at all.

List your genuine preferences in true priority order. Include at least one school you are confident of receiving a place at — often a school within very close walking distance or one that has historically had lower demand — as a safety preference.

The grammar school 11+ timeline in detail

If you are applying for a selective grammar school place, the 11+ testing process runs significantly earlier than the standard admissions round. The typical sequence is:

1. April to June (Year 5 or 6) — grammar school and consortium websites publish registration information; some areas (e.g. Kent, Birmingham) require formal registration before the test; others accept walk-ins
2. September (Year 6) — most 11+ tests take place at the start of Year 6, typically between mid-September and mid-October; some consortiums test in late Year 5
3. October to November (Year 6) — results are published; children are told whether they have reached the qualifying score (pass mark varies by school and year)
4. 31 October (Year 6) — secondary school application deadline; you include grammar school preferences in your standard secondary application at this stage
5. 1 March — National Offer Day; grammar school offers are released through the same co-ordinated system as all other secondary offers

Missing the 11+ registration window effectively means your child cannot apply to that grammar school for that year. Some grammar schools accept late test registrations in exceptional circumstances, but this is not guaranteed. Check dates with the specific school or consortium by April of Year 5 or early Year 6.

Understanding and meeting the appeal deadline

If your child is refused a place at a preferred school, you have the right to appeal to an independent appeals panel. The appeal deadline is set by the local authority or school and is typically around 20 school days after the offer letter is sent.

For primary school refusals sent on 16 April, the appeal deadline is usually in mid to late May. For secondary refusals sent on 1 March, it is usually in late March or early April. Each local authority publishes its specific appeal deadlines alongside the offer results — check the offer letter or the admissions pages.

Late appeals — those submitted after the deadline — may still be considered, but there is no guarantee of a hearing before September. If you need an appeal heard before the start of the school year, submit before the deadline.

You can appeal for a school place at the same time as joining the waiting list. The two processes are independent of each other.

What happens if you apply late?

Late applications — those received after the national closing date — are processed only after all on-time applications have been considered. This matters because the most desirable school places will typically be allocated to on-time applicants. By the time a late application is processed, very few or no places may remain at popular schools, regardless of how close you live.

Some local authorities accept late applications with extenuating circumstances — for example, a family that has recently moved to the area and only recently became eligible to apply, or a parent dealing with a serious family emergency. Contact your local authority admissions team as soon as possible and explain the circumstances in writing. There is no guarantee, but authorities do have discretion.

If your late application results in no offer from preferred schools, you will receive an allocated place at the nearest school with a vacancy. You can then appeal and join waiting lists in the normal way.

In-year admissions timeline

In-year admissions apply when you need a school place outside the main annual round — for example, because your family has moved to a new area during the school year, or because you want to transfer your child to a different school. Unlike the main round, there is no single national timetable for in-year admissions. Each application is handled individually.

The general process is:

1. Contact the local authority — your home local authority coordinates in-year admissions for community schools; some academies and free schools manage their own in-year admissions directly
2. Submit the in-year application form — most authorities have a dedicated in-year application form, separate from the main round form; this is available on their website or by telephoning the admissions team
3. Decision within 15 school days — the School Admissions Code requires admission authorities to notify you of the outcome of an in-year application within 15 school days of receiving it
4. Waiting list if no place available — if the school has no vacancies, you can ask to be placed on the waiting list; in-year waiting lists operate on the same ranked criteria as the main round
5. Appeal right — you have the right to appeal an in-year refusal; you should also be provided with information about other schools in the area with available places

If you have just moved to England and need a school place urgently, contact your local authority immediately. They have a duty to ensure every child of compulsory school age has a school place. Even if your preferred schools have no vacancies, they will coordinate to find a place at a school within a reasonable distance of your home.

Year 7 to Year 7 transfers and mid-year moves

If you want to transfer your child to a different secondary school mid-year — for example, following a move, a change in circumstances, or dissatisfaction with the current school — this is handled as an in-year application to the new school. Your child must continue attending their current school until the in-year transfer is confirmed. Removing a child from school without a confirmed alternative place is not permitted and could result in the child being treated as absent.

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply for primary school?

Applications for Reception entry open in September of the year before your child is due to start. If your child is starting Reception in September 2026, applications open in September 2025. The deadline is 15 January 2026. Apply as soon as the portal opens — submitting early does not give you any admissions advantage, but it removes the risk of missing the deadline due to technical issues or forgotten passwords.

When should I apply for secondary school?

Applications for Year 7 entry open on 1 September of the year before your child is due to start. For September 2026 entry, this means applications open 1 September 2025, with a deadline of 31 October 2025. If your child is sitting the 11+ for grammar school entry, registration for that test typically needs to happen earlier — usually by May or June.

What is the difference between 15 January and 31 October deadlines?

The 15 January deadline is for primary school (Reception). The 31 October deadline is for secondary school (Year 7). These are national closing dates set by the Department for Education and apply to every local authority in England. Individual local authorities cannot set a later deadline than these dates, though some publish earlier local deadlines.

What happens on National Offer Day?

On National Offer Day — 1 March for secondary and 16 April for primary — all local authorities simultaneously release their admissions decisions. You will receive your offer via the online portal you used to apply, or by email, or by post. You must respond by the acceptance deadline (usually 15 March for secondary, 30 April for primary). If you do not respond, your offer may be withdrawn.

Can I change my school preferences after submitting my application?

Most local authorities allow you to amend your preferences up to the closing date. After the deadline, changes are typically only accepted in exceptional circumstances — for example, a house move that makes a different school significantly more appropriate. Contact your local authority admissions team immediately if your circumstances change after submitting.

What if my child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?

Children with an EHCP that names a specific school are admitted to that school by right, outside the standard co-ordinated admissions process. The EHCP naming process runs separately — typically through the local authority's Special Educational Needs team — and should be resolved before the normal offer day. If your child's EHCP is under review or a school is being named, contact your SEND caseworker rather than following the standard admissions timeline.