Compare schools online: how to choose your child's school in England

Choosing a school is one of the first big decisions for a family that has moved to England. On 13 November 2026 the Department for Education launched a free government service that gathers data on every state school and college in one place. Schools Minister Georgia Gould called choosing a school "a big decision, and not one that parents take lightly".

What does the new service show?

Each school gets its own profile: location, age range, attendance, results and wider offerings such as free breakfast clubs. For secondary schools you can see which GCSE subjects pupils enter and where they go after year 11 — further education, apprenticeships or employment.

ADV · A003We build websites for tradespeople and sole traders — £219Customers see your work and prices and message you straight away. Ready in 3 days, £219 instead of £438.Advertise here

The headline feature is side-by-side comparison. It currently works for secondary schools and is being rolled out to primary schools. Ofsted inspection reports are due to be added next year. The service is at find-compare-schools-colleges.service.gov.uk.

When is the deadline to apply?

The service helps you choose, but you apply separately through your local council. The national deadlines are the same across England. Primary applications close on 15 January; secondary applications close on 31 October of the previous school year. Councils send secondary offers on 1 March and primary offers on 16 April. If a date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, offers go out the next working day.

Why does it matter for parents?

The department points to a finding: children whose parents received clear information about their progress achieved higher results on average and were less likely to be persistently absent. Comparing schools before you apply helps you see which schools are realistically available near you and how they differ — especially useful for a family new to the area.

What else is coming to the service?

The service covers not only schools but also colleges for older teenagers. The department plans to add information on out-of-classroom activities in coming years, and Ofsted inspection reports next year. So each profile will keep growing, and it is worth returning to the comparison before every new admissions round. For secondary schools you can already see not just exam results but how many pupils went on to further study, and how many into work or apprenticeships.

Where to start?

Open the service, enter your postcode and look at nearby schools. Compare attendance, results and enrichment. Then check your council's admission criteria — a place is usually offered by distance to the school, whether siblings already attend and other rules. Apply before the deadline: late applications are considered last, when fewer places remain.