Starting primary school

If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, you need to apply for a reception school place for September 2025.

The closing date for applications is 15 January 2025.

If you want to visit a school before applying, contact the school directly. See also school open events and online talks giving application advice.

Before you apply: 

• read the primary school admissions booklet (pdf, 66 page(s), 6.13 MB)
• find schools near you and check your home to school distances
• check the home to school distance of children offered places in previous years
• see information on summer born children and starting school later
• see information on school places for children with social or medical needs

Apply online now 

If you cannot apply online, contact us to have a paper form sent to you to instead. 

Faith schools 

Some faith schools ask for further information when applying. You must contact the school and ask them to send you the form. 

Find out which faith schools ask for further information.

What happens after applying 

If you applied online, you’ll get an email confirming your application’s been received. The email will list all the application details and include an application reference number like 309-2025-E-XXXXX. 

If you do not receive an email, contact us to check your application was submitted. 

Offer of a school place 

If we have an email address for you, we’ll email you on 16 April, called primary national offer day, offering your child a school place.