Applying for a secondary school place

We recommend you use the time before the application process starts to do some research into your local schools. Visit the deciding a place to learn page for guidance on how to decide on which schools to include in your application.

Please note faith schools and some academies will ask you to send them supplementary information. They usually have their own forms for this, which you will find on their websites and should send directly to the schools. Please remember that you must still submit an online application to be considered for a place at that school.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 31 October 2022.

• Last year there were over 500 late applicants. If you apply late, you are much less likely to be offered a place at one of your preferred schools.
• The late application policy, detailed in the admission arrangements, will apply to those applications made after the closing date.

If you applied by the deadline you will receive your school offer on National Offer Day, 1 March 2023.

The deadline for responding to your offer is 15 March 2023.

We advise you to always accept the offer you have been made, so that your child has a secured place for September 2023. Doing so will not affect any appeal you make, or your place on any waiting lists.

Accept a secondary school offer

Please follow the link below to accept your offer through the Parent Portal. You will receive an email confirmation once the place is accepted.

• Accept your secondary school offer

Decline a secondary school offer

We understand you may be disappointed if your child has not been offered their first preference school. Please read our guidance below on waiting lists and appeals before declining your offer. 

• Decline your secondary school offer

During this time we will be processing late applications and allocating any available places from waiting lists. 

Waiting lists

We operate waiting lists for school places. If you have not been offered your first preference school, you will automatically be placed on the waiting list for your higher preference schools. For example If you applied for three schools and were offered your third preference you will automatically be added to the waiting list for the first and second preferences.

Please note that a child’s position on a waiting list can move up and down, as late applicants are added to waiting lists and any vacancies are reoffered. Given this, we are unfortunately not able to provide any information on waiting list positions while we work on these. Please be assured that if we can allocate your child a place at a school listed as a higher preference on your application than the school currently offered, we will contact you.

Key waiting list dates:

• 22 March 2023 – first round of offers from the waiting lists commence (please note you may not hear on this date).
• 24 April 2023 – second round of offers from the waiting lists commence (please note you may not hear on this date).

Appeals are heard by independent appeal panels.

Lodging an appeal

You can appeal for any higher preference school for which you have been refused a place. The deadline to submit an appeal for a hearing to take place before the end of the summer term is 28 March 2023.

Even if you plan to appeal, we advise you to accept the offer you have been made, so that your child has a secured place for September 2023. Doing so will not affect any appeal you make, or your place on any waiting lists.

• More information on appeals