We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
Get a place for your child at a primary or secondary school - applications, deadlines, admission criteria, appeals and complaints.
If you live in England contact your local council to find: state-funded…
All schools have admission criteria to decide which children get places.…
Most children start reception full-time in September after their fourth…
Follow your local council’s application process to: apply for a primary…
If your child does not have a place, contact your local council for…
You’ll be sent a letter with the decision about your child’s school. If…
You can complain about the way the appeal was carried out, but you can not…
Apply for a state primary school place through your local council
Apply for a state secondary school place through your local council
Information about academy admissions and the role of the Department for Education (DfE).
How to object to admission arrangements and how admission authorities can apply for an in-year variation or appeal against a direction to admit a child.
Applying for a school place, home schooling and travel costs
Advice for state-funded school admission authorities, independent schools, local authorities and parents.
Statutory guidance that schools must follow when carrying out duties relating to school admissions.
Guidance and templates to help free schools write their admission and referral policies.
Statutory guidance on how schools should organise and run their pupil admission appeals.
Statistics on secondary and primary school applications, including details of offers parents receive on National Offer Day.
How local authorities should collect and submit admission appeals data from all community and voluntary-controlled schools in their area.
Guidance about using the pupil premium, service premium or early years pupil premium oversubscription criteria in school admissions.
Guidance for parents on requesting a delayed school start for children born in the summer.
Guidance to help admission authorities advise those involved with school admission appeals to understand their roles and responsibilities.
We’re seeking views on a revised version of the School Admissions Code to support vulnerable children.
Forms to be used by local authorities for requesting that the Secretary of State for Education directs an academy to admit a child.
Statistics on appeals against admission decisions in primary and secondary schools.
We decide on objections and variations to admission arrangements, appeals from schools directed to admit pupils, significant changes to schools and ownership of school land. OSA works with the Department for Education .
How changes to the 'School admissions code' in 2003 and 2007 affected the social-make-up of secondary schools in England.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.