Starting secondary school (Year 7)
Information for parents about applying for Year 7 places for September 2026.
2. When to apply
If your child is in year six you should apply for a place at a secondary school. Applications are open between September and October each year.
You can check the table below to see when to apply based on your child's date of birth:
| Child born between | Starts secondary school | Apply between |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 2014 - 31 Aug 2015 | Sep 2026 | Sep 2025 - Oct 2025 |
| 1 Sep 2015 - 31 Aug 2016 | Sep 2027 | Sep 2026 - Oct 2026 |
| 1 Sep 2016 - 31 Aug 2017 | Sep 2028 | Sep 2027 - Oct 2027 |
| 1 Sep 2017 - 31 Aug 2018 | Sep 2029 | Sep 2028 - Oct 2029 |
Early transfer
Applications for exceptional early transfer must be submitted before 31 October 2025 to the area education office in writing. The final decision whether an application will be considered will be made by individual admission authorities.
Summer born children who deferred a year
If your child's school start was delayed and you wish them to remain outside of their age group when they transfer to secondary school, you will need to apply for an outside normal year group place.
See the summer born children page.
Apply online for a school place
Applications for school places for September 2026 open on 1 September 2025.
The deadline to apply for a Year 7 place is 31 October 2025.