Primary School Application Deadline 2026

The primary school application deadline in England is 15 January and the secondary school application deadline is 31 October, both in the school year before your child starts. Miss them and your application is treated as late, which sharply cuts your chance of a place at a popular school. This guide sets out every key date for the current admissions round, the National Offer Days when places are confirmed, and what to do if a deadline has already passed.

Admissions are run by your local council, not the schools, and the closing dates are national, so they are the same wherever you live in England. For the bigger picture of how the whole system fits together, read our complete guide to school admissions in England.

The key dates at a glance

There are two separate rounds with different deadlines and offer days. Secondary comes first in the school year, which is why it is the one parents most often miss.

Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October. Offers sent on secondary National Offer Day, normally 1 March.
Primary (Reception): apply by 15 January. Offers sent on primary National Offer Day, 16 April.
Junior or infant transfer: follows the 15 January primary deadline in most areas.

Secondary school: applying for September 2027

If your child is in Year 6 now, you apply for a secondary place from early September 2026 and must submit by 31 October 2026. Offers land on secondary National Offer Day, 1 March 2027. Start in September so you can attend open evenings, which cluster in September and October, before the application window closes.

Primary school: applying for September 2027

For a Reception place starting September 2027, applications open in early September 2026 and close on 15 January 2027, with offers on 16 April 2027. The same 15 January deadline usually applies to infant to junior school transfers where the two are separate schools.

National Offer Days explained

On National Offer Day every council in England releases its offers at once, so families find out together. In 2026 secondary offers went out on Monday 2 March and primary offers are due on Thursday 16 April. The standard dates are 1 March for secondary and 16 April for primary, moving to the next working day when they fall on a weekend, which is why secondary shifted to 2 March in 2026. The government explains the secondary process on the Department for Education blog at educationhub.blog.gov.uk.

What to do if you miss the deadline

A late application is still accepted, but it is dealt with after all the on-time ones, so you are far more likely to miss out on oversubscribed schools even if you live close by. Apply as soon as you can, contact your council, and explain any genuine reason for lateness, such as a recent move into the area, since some authorities consider exceptional circumstances. If you end up without a place you wanted, you can go on waiting lists and lodge an appeal.

How to give yourself the best chance

Use every preference your council offers, usually up to six, and rank them in honest order of which you would most like. Listing only one or two schools does not improve your odds and can leave you with no offer at all. Always include at least one realistic, likely-to-be-offered option as a safety net, and check each school admission policy so your preferences match how places are actually allocated. You can find more parent guides on the Schools Insight homepage.

Frequently asked questions

When is the primary school application deadline?

The national primary school application deadline in England is 15 January in the year your child is due to start. For a Reception place in September 2027, you apply through your local council from early September 2026 and must submit by 15 January 2027. Primary offers are then sent on National Offer Day, 16 April.

When is the secondary school application deadline?

The secondary school application deadline is 31 October in the year before your child starts Year 7. For entry in September 2027 you apply by 31 October 2026, and offers are sent on secondary National Offer Day, 1 March 2027. Because it falls earliest, it is the deadline parents most often miss.

When is National Offer Day in 2026?

In 2026, secondary National Offer Day was Monday 2 March and primary National Offer Day is Thursday 16 April. The secondary date is normally 1 March and the primary 16 April, moving to the next working day when they fall on a weekend, which is why secondary shifted to 2 March in 2026.

What happens if I miss the application deadline?

A late application is normally processed after all the on-time ones, which means you are much more likely to miss out on popular schools even if you live nearby. Apply as soon as you can, contact your local council, and explain any genuine reason for being late, as some authorities consider exceptional circumstances.

How many schools can I apply for?

Most councils let you list up to six preferences on one application, although some allow three. Use all of your preferences, rank them in genuine order, and include at least one realistic option you are likely to be offered, so you are not left without a place if your top choices are oversubscribed.