Applying for a school place in England 2026: deadlines of 31 October and 15 January

Applying for a state school place in England goes through your local council, and the key thing is not to be late. According to GOV.UK, secondary school applications close on 31 October and primary school applications by 15 January.

Who allocates school places?

Admissions are handled by the local council for the area where you live. You apply through it for schools in your area, and if you wish for schools in other areas too. A single application usually lets you list several schools in order of preference.

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What are the deadlines and offer days?

Secondary applications close on 31 October, with offers sent on 1 March. Primary applications close on 15 January, with offers on 16 April. If an offer day falls on a weekend or bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.

What happens if you apply late?

Late applications are considered after those made on time, so the chance of a place at a popular school drops sharply. If you have just moved, still apply as soon as possible and ask the council how late applications are handled.

How are places decided?

Each school has admission criteria — for example distance from home, having siblings at the school, or belonging to the parish for faith schools. When more families apply than there are places, these criteria decide who gets in.

Can you challenge a refusal?

Yes. If you are not offered a place at a preferred school, you have the right to appeal, heard by an independent panel. It is also worth joining the waiting list, as places sometimes free up once families accept other offers.

School admissions is a process where deadline discipline matters most. Mark 31 October and 15 January in your calendar early, study the admission criteria of your preferred schools, and list several options rather than one.