Starting secondary school September 2026

If you have a child born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015, you must apply for your child to start secondary school in September 2026.

Key dates

• The deadline for on-time applications is Friday 31 October 2025.
• National offer day is Monday 2 March 2026.

Schools open evenings

Schools hold open evenings each year to provide parents with information specific to their school.

Information about school open evenings will be available on individual school websites from September. 

Before you apply 

• Read the School admissions 2026 brochure (PDF, 2 MB). This contains a lot of useful information on making your application, choosing your schools, frequently asked questions and all of the schools' individual criteria and contact details.

Grammar school information for September 2026

View our designated page on grammar schools for advice and support. 

How to apply

To give your child the best possible chance of being offered their preferred school place, ensure your application is received on time. 

The closing date for on-time applications is Friday 31 October 2025.

Apply for a secondary school place(opens new window)

Please note:

• If you have difficulties making an application online, get additional support on how to create and complete an online application. 
• Information on how to apply online for a school place with eadmissions (PDF, 300 KB).
• If you choose to apply online, you must not complete a paper application as well. 
• We are not responsible for postal delays or internet issues, so we recommend submitting your application by Friday 24 October 2025 to ensure it arrives on time.