School Admissions Timeline UK: Complete Guide for Parents

Understanding the school admissions timeline is crucial for every parent in the UK. Missing a deadline can mean your child loses their place at your preferred school, or worse, doesn't get allocated a school place at all.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the entire school admissions timeline for both primary and secondary schools, helping you plan ahead and never miss an important date.

Why the School Admissions Timeline Matters

School admissions in the UK follow a strict annual timetable. Local authorities coordinate applications across hundreds of schools, and the system only works if everyone follows the same timeline.

If you miss the deadline:

• Your application becomes "late" and is processed after all on-time applications
• You lose priority consideration for your preferred schools
• Popular schools may already be full by the time your application is considered
• You may end up with a school place miles away from your home

The good news? Once you understand the timeline, it's straightforward to follow.

Primary School Admissions Timeline

Primary school applications are for children starting Reception (the first year of primary school). Your child must start primary school in the September following their 4th birthday.

September (Year Before Starting School)

What happens: Local authorities open their application portals. Schools begin hosting open days and tours.

What you should do:

• Research schools in your area using tools like SchoolsInsight
• Check Ofsted reports and school performance data
• Create a shortlist of schools to visit
• Book places at school open days (these fill up quickly)
• Start gathering documents you'll need (proof of address, birth certificate)

This is your research phase. Don't rush it. Visit multiple schools, talk to other parents, and get a feel for which schools align with your family's values and needs.

October (Year Before Starting School)

What happens: Open days continue. More schools publish their tours and information sessions. Application forms are fully available.

What you should do:

• Attend open days at your shortlisted schools
• Ask questions about class sizes, teaching methods, wrap-around care
• Look at catchment area boundaries and measure distances from your home
• Check each school's admissions criteria carefully
• Note any supplementary forms required (faith schools often have these)

Key tip: Bring a notebook to open days. After visiting 4-5 schools, they start to blur together. Write down your impressions immediately.

November to Mid-January (Year Before Starting School)

What happens: This is your application window. Most local authorities set a deadline of 15 January for Reception applications.

What you should do:

• Complete your online application through your local authority portal
• List up to 6 schools in your genuine order of preference
• Submit any supplementary information forms directly to schools (especially faith schools)
• Keep copies of everything you submit
• Get confirmation that your application was received

Critical deadlines:

• 15 January: This is the standard deadline across England (some authorities may vary by a day or two)
• Applications submitted after this date are considered "late"

How to rank your schools: List them in true preference order. The system is designed so you can't "game" it by putting a less popular school first. Always put your real first choice at number 1.

Mid-January to March (Year Before Starting School)

What happens: Local authorities process applications. Schools apply their admissions criteria. The allocation system runs, matching children to schools.

What you should do:

• Wait patiently (there's nothing else you can do during this period)
• Don't contact schools asking about your chances
• Keep your contact details updated with the local authority
• If you move house during this period, notify them immediately

National Offer Day (Mid-April)

What happens: All parents receive their school offers simultaneously on National Offer Day, typically 16 April (or the next working day if this falls on a weekend).

What you should do:

• Check your email and online portal from midnight onwards
• Read your offer letter carefully
• You'll get ONE offer, the highest preference school that could accommodate your child
• If you didn't get any of your preferences, you'll be offered the nearest school with spaces

Possible outcomes: 1. You got your first choice (around 90% of families) 2. You got your second, third, or lower preference 3. You didn't get any of your preferences and were allocated your nearest available school

After National Offer Day (Mid to Late April)

What happens: You must respond to your offer and can join waiting lists or appeal.

What you should do:

• Accept or decline your offer within the deadline (usually about 2 weeks)
• Accept even if it's not your first choice, you need to secure a place
• Add your child's name to waiting lists for higher preference schools
• Start preparing an appeal if you want to challenge the decision
• Check the appeals deadline (usually around 4 weeks from offer day)

Important: Accepting a place doesn't stop you appealing or being on waiting lists. Always accept to guarantee your child has a school.

May to August (Summer Before Starting)

What happens: Waiting lists are active. Appeals are heard. Schools send welcome information.

What you should do:

• Regularly check waiting list positions (they change as people accept/decline offers)
• Attend your appeal hearing if you lodged an appeal
• Attend induction days at your allocated school
• Buy uniform and prepare your child emotionally
• Update the local authority if your circumstances change

Many places become available during summer as families move house or change their plans. Stay active on those waiting lists.

Secondary School Admissions Timeline

Secondary school applications are for children moving from primary to secondary school (Year 7). Your child will apply in Year 6 for a September start in Year 7.

September (Year 6)

What happens: Local authorities open Year 7 application portals. Secondary schools host open evenings.

What you should do:

• Research secondary schools in your area
• Look beyond Ofsted ratings at Progress 8 scores and exam results
• Consider your child's learning style and personality
• Book places at open evenings (these are extremely popular)
• Discuss options with your child, their opinion matters at this age

September to October (Year 6)

What happens: Open evenings run throughout September and October, typically on weekday evenings.

What you should do:

• Attend multiple open evenings with your child
• Let your child explore the school and ask questions
• Check travel routes and journey times
• Ask about setting arrangements and support for different abilities
• Look at extracurricular clubs and facilities
• For grammar schools, register for the 11-plus exam if applicable

Grammar school timeline: If you're considering grammar schools, the 11-plus exam typically happens in September or October of Year 6, before the main application deadline. Register in summer of Year 5.

31 October (Year 6)

What happens: National deadline for secondary school applications in England.

What you should do:

• Submit your Common Application Form through your local authority portal
• List up to 6 schools in your genuine preference order
• Submit supplementary forms to individual schools (aptitude tests, faith school forms)
• Keep evidence of submission
• Confirm the local authority received your application

This deadline is earlier than primary school (31 October vs 15 January). Don't confuse them.

November to February (Year 6)

What happens: Applications are processed. Grammar school results are released (usually December). Allocation system runs.

What you should do:

• If you applied to grammar schools, await results in December
• You may need to adjust your preferences based on grammar school results
• Most authorities allow preference changes until mid-December
• After that, wait for National Offer Day

National Offer Day (1 March)

What happens: All Year 6 families receive their secondary school offers on 1 March (or next working day).

What you should do:

• Check online from midnight
• Follow the same process as primary: accept, appeal, or join waiting lists
• Response deadline is usually mid-March
• Always accept your offer even if you plan to appeal

March to August (Year 6)

What happens: Waiting lists are active. Appeals heard. Transition arrangements begin.

What you should do:

• Attend transition days at your allocated school (usually June/July)
• Stay on waiting lists for preferred schools
• Prepare your child for the move to secondary
• Buy uniform over summer
• Attend parents' information evenings

Key Differences Between Primary and Secondary Timelines

| Aspect | Primary | Secondary | |--------|---------|-----------| | Application deadline | 15 January | 31 October | | Offer day | 16 April | 1 March | | Application made in | Reception entry year | Year 6 | | Entrance exams | None (except selective schools) | 11-plus for grammars |

In-Year Admissions Timeline

If you're moving house or need to change schools mid-year, the timeline is different:

Immediate process:

• Contact your local authority's in-year admissions team
• Complete an in-year application form
• Applications are processed within 15 school days
• You'll get an offer or refusal for each school you apply to
• No coordinated offer day, it's rolling admissions

In-year is much quicker but often harder to secure places at popular schools.

What Happens If You Move House During the Process?

Before the deadline:

• Update your application with your new address
• Provide proof of the move (rental agreement or purchase documents)
• Your application will be reconsidered based on the new address
• This could improve or worsen your chances depending on where you move

After the deadline but before offer day:

• Notify the local authority immediately
• They'll update your address and reprocess your application
• You might be considered with late applications if the change is too close to offer day

After offer day:

• Your existing offer may no longer be reasonable if you've moved far away
• You'll need to make an in-year application in your new area
• Try to time moves outside the admissions process if possible

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing the Deadline

Set multiple reminders. Mark it in your calendar. Missing by even one day makes you a late applicant.

2. Not Using All Preferences

You can list up to 6 schools. Use all 6. Even if you only like 2 schools, fill in the other slots with acceptable backups.

3. Only Applying to Popular Schools

Include at least one school where you're highly likely to get a place. This is your safety net.

4. Gaming the System

Don't try to outsmart the system by putting a less popular school first. It doesn't work. The Equal Preference System means you can't gain an advantage this way.

5. Assuming Catchment Means Guaranteed

Living in catchment doesn't guarantee a place. If the school is oversubscribed, they apply their criteria (often by distance). Measure the exact distance from your door to the school gate.

6. Forgetting Supplementary Forms

Faith schools and some others require additional forms. Missing these means you won't be considered under faith criteria, dramatically reducing your chances.

7. Not Checking Sibling Priority Rules

Having a sibling at the school usually gives priority, but check the exact rules. Some schools only count siblings in certain year groups.

Planning Ahead: When to Start Thinking About Schools

For Reception (Primary):

• Start researching: September, one year before entry
• Serious consideration: October to December
• Decision made: January

For Year 7 (Secondary):

• Start researching: Spring/Summer of Year 5
• Attend open evenings: September/October of Year 6
• Decision made: October of Year 6

Early planning means less stress and better decisions.

Tools to Help You Track the Timeline

Use these resources to stay on top of deadlines:

1. Your local authority website has the exact dates for your area 2. School admissions portal shows your application status 3. Calendar reminders set them for 2 weeks, 1 week, and 2 days before deadlines 4. SchoolsInsight helps you research schools and track deadlines in one place 5. Gov.uk provides national guidance on admissions processes

Regional Variations

While the timeline above applies to England, there are some variations:

Scotland: Different system entirely (enrollment rather than application). Contact schools directly in November/December for August entry.

Wales: Similar timeline to England but managed by local authorities. Check your local authority website.

Northern Ireland: Applications in January for the following September. Transfer test (11-plus equivalent) in November/December of P7.

Always check your specific local authority website for exact dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply to schools in a different local authority? Yes, absolutely. You apply through your home local authority, but you can list schools from any authority. The systems coordinate behind the scenes.

Q: What if I miss the deadline? Your application becomes late and is only considered after all on-time applications. This significantly reduces your chances at popular schools. Contact your local authority immediately to submit a late application.

Q: Can I change my preferences after submitting? Usually yes, up to the deadline. After the deadline, most authorities lock preferences. Check your local authority's policy.

Q: Do I need to accept the offer immediately? No, you typically have about 2 weeks to respond. But don't delay unnecessarily, you need to secure your place.

Q: Can I be on multiple waiting lists? Yes, you can be on the waiting list for any school that refused you a place. There's no limit.

Q: How long do waiting lists last? For Reception and Year 7, waiting lists must be maintained until at least 31 December of the entry year. Some schools keep them longer.

Q: Does visiting a school improve my chances? No, attendance at open days doesn't affect your application. But it helps you make an informed choice.

Q: Should I contact schools directly about my application? Only to submit supplementary forms or clarify admissions criteria. Don't ask about your chances, they can't tell you.

Final Thoughts

The school admissions timeline can feel overwhelming, especially if it's your first time navigating it. But armed with the right information and a clear calendar of deadlines, you can approach the process with confidence.

Start early, research thoroughly, use all your preferences, and never miss a deadline. These simple rules will put you in the best possible position to secure a place at a school that's right for your child.

Remember, schools want to work with parents to get the best outcome for children. If you're ever unsure about a deadline or process, contact your local authority's admissions team. They're there to help.

Good luck with your application, and here's to a smooth admissions journey for your family.