Key dates for secondary school places

Key dates when applying for a secondary school place.

Key dates and events for secondary school places.
Date	Event
Monday 8 September 2025	Secondary school applications open for September 2026. Opportunity for parents and carers to start visiting schools.
Friday 31 October 2025	Closing date for all secondary school applications at 11:59pm. In case of technical issues we strongly recommend you apply online and not delay your application until the last minute. If you choose to apply on a paper form, it is your responsibility to ensure the form arrives before the national closing date. Please ensure you specify your email address if you have one.
Friday 28 November 2025	Closing date for out of time applications made after the application deadline. Closing date for receipt of evidence regarding a request to change preferences due to a genuine unforeseeable reason. Closing date for receipt of evidence for house movers.
Monday 2 March 2026	Offer day - on-time online applicants notified which school their child has been offered by email. Applicants who submitted a paper form will be emailed their allocation later this day if an email address was provided in the application. Applicants who do not have an email address will receive a letter by second class post.
Monday 30 March 2026 onwards	Late applications received on or after 29 November 2025 are processed and offers made. Waiting lists will be established and places offered if they become available.
April to August 2026	Independent appeal panel hear appeals lodged by parents/carers.
September 2026	New term starts.

Key dates when applying for a secondary school place.