When to apply, dates for offers, appeals and waiting lists for a new reception school place for 2025.
The important dates for new reception applications are:
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | Website opens for all applications for main round admission to a primary school from September 2027 |
| 15 January 2027 | The NATIONAL closing date for submission of Common Application Form and deadline for sending supplementary information forms to schools. Online applications will close at 23.59. |
| 1 February 2027 | LA will aim to exchange data with other LAs where parents have applied across LA boundaries |
| 1 February 2027 | LA will aim to send other admitting authorities details of applications for them to rank |
| 22 February 2027 | Foundation and VA schools and academies return ranked lists of pupils |
| 22 February 2027 | FINAL cut-off for taking new addresses into account for first round unless a school’s admission policy gives a different date |
| 22 March 2027 | Day when LA starts offer processing. The LA will inform other admitting authorities of provisional offers to be made to applicants residing in their area |
| 5 April 2027 | LA sends schools draft list of allocated pupils for them to check |
| 16 April 2027 | National Offer Day: Online applicants notified of allocation by email. Parents who have applied with an electronic form will have a letter emailed on the morning of allocation day. |
| 4 May 2027 | Deadline for parents to accept offer |
| 10 May 2027 | Closing date for second round applications |
| 21 May 2027 | Decisions on late applications |
| 29 May 2027 | Closing date for receipt of 1st round appeals to be heard before the end of the summer term |
| 9 June 2027 | Deadline for parents to accept offer for second round applications |
| June/July 2027 | Appeals for on time applications |
| 27 June 2027 | Closing date for receipt of 2nd round appeals |
| July/September 2027 | Appeals for late applications |
| 1 September 2027 | Term starts. Date when applications are treated as In Year Admissions |