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Secondary school places: When is the application deadline for 2025? National offer day: When do parents find out secondary school places?
(4 months later)
Parents applying for secondary school places for 2025 will not have access to the latest performance tables ahead of the deadline. Secondary school offer day has arrived, meaning families of Year 6 children in England and Wales will soon find out which school they should be attending from September 2025.
The Department for Education had to delay publishing the data, external over concerns about its accuracy. Last year, 83% of applicants in England secured their first choice, but what can parents do if they aren't happy when national offer day comes around?
Teaching unions welcomed the decision not to publish "misleading" data but added it would "obviously be frustrating for parents and young people making decisions about their secondary-school choices". When do parents find out about secondary school places?
When is the deadline to apply for secondary-school places? Children starting Year 7 in England and Wales in September find out about school places on Monday, 3 March, external - the first working day of the month.
Parents of children starting Year 7 in England and Wales in September 2025 have until 31 October to apply for their preferred secondary school. If you missed the deadline to apply for a place, in England, your application will not be considered until after the first round of offers is made.
Offers will not be made until early next year. In Wales, if you had a good reason for the delay, such as moving to the area after the deadline, the local authority should have considered it alongside on-time applications.
If you miss the deadline to apply for a place, in England your application will not be considered until after the first round of offers are made. In Northern Ireland, post-primary school places will be sent out on Saturday, 10 May, external.
In Wales, if you have good reason for the delay, such as moving to the area after the deadline, the local authority should consider it alongside on-time applications. In Scotland, no offers are made, as councils decide where pupils are placed, external.
In Northern Ireland, post-primary school places are usually sent out in May.
In Scotland, no offers are made, as councils decide where children are placed, external.
BBC Bitesize: Starting secondary schoolBBC Bitesize: Starting secondary school
Listen: What makes a good school?Listen: What makes a good school?
'My son has no school to go to and wakes up crying'
How are secondary school places decided?How are secondary school places decided?
Children in care, or who have previously been in care, are given top priority.Children in care, or who have previously been in care, are given top priority.
Beyond that, schools or local authorities usually set their own admissions criteria, external.Beyond that, schools or local authorities usually set their own admissions criteria, external.
Some prioritise children from a particular religion, or those who pass an entrance exam.Some prioritise children from a particular religion, or those who pass an entrance exam.
Research by the University of Bristol into admissions in England, external found that:Research by the University of Bristol into admissions in England, external found that:
96% gave precedence to siblings of current pupils96% gave precedence to siblings of current pupils
88% were more likely to give places to local children88% were more likely to give places to local children
Only 5% prioritised disadvantaged pupils. Only 5% prioritised disadvantaged pupils
Do children with SEND get priority for school places? Do children with Send get priority for school places?
If your child has special education needs and disabilities (SEND) in England, their Education, Health and Care plan may specify a school, external, which must give them a place. If your child has special education needs and disabilities (Send) in England, their education, health and care plan may specify a school, external, which must give them a place.
The same applies in Wales if the local authority names the school it thinks is most appropriate, external for the child in their SEND statement. The same applies in Wales if the local authority names the school it thinks is most appropriate, external for the child in their Send statement.
In Northern Ireland, there is a separate application process, external.In Northern Ireland, there is a separate application process, external.
In Scotland, local authorities have to work with parents and professionals to identify the best option for your child's secondary education, external. In Scotland, local authorities have to work with parents and professionals to identify the best option for the child's secondary education, external.
How do parents accept a school offer?How do parents accept a school offer?
In England, the offer letter or email you receive at the start of next year will explain what you need to do next. In England, the offer letter or email you receive will explain what you need to do next.
You may need to accept the place by a given deadline - if you miss that, the offer could be withdrawn and the place given to someone else. You may need to accept the place by a given deadline. If you miss that, the offer could be withdrawn and the place given to someone else.
Not all admissions teams in Wales require parents to accept a place - the letter will make it clear whether you need to do anything. Not all admissions teams in Wales require parents to accept a place - the letter will make clear whether you need to do anything.
How do I appeal against a secondary school place? How do I appeal against a secondary school placement?
You can appeal against a school's decision, but the process varies across the UK.You can appeal against a school's decision, but the process varies across the UK.
In England, appeals are decided by an independent panel, external. To succeed, parents might have to show that the proper admissions process was not followed, or set out what the school can offer your child that other schools cannot. In England, appeals are decided by an independent panel, external. To succeed, parents might have to show that the proper admissions process was not followed, or set out what a school can offer your child that other schools cannot.
If the appeal is successful, the child will be given a place. If not, the child can still be added to the school's waiting list. If the appeal is successful, the child will be given a place at your school of choice. If not, the child can still be added to the school's waiting list.
The proportion of successful appeals dropped from 26% in 2016 to 21% in 2021. On average, just over 20% of appeals are successful, according to government data for 2024.
In Wales, you can challenge the decision during an initial appeal hearing, external.In Wales, you can challenge the decision during an initial appeal hearing, external.
If the panel does not find in the child's favour, the appeal can move to a second stage where parents set out their argument, and the admission authority responds.If the panel does not find in the child's favour, the appeal can move to a second stage where parents set out their argument, and the admission authority responds.
In Northern Ireland, you can appeal against a decision, external if you think the school didn't correctly apply its published admissions criteria. An Independent Admissions Appeal tribunal hears the case, and if successful, your child will be offered a place. In Northern Ireland, you can appeal against a decision, external if you think the school didn't correctly apply its published admissions criteria. An Independent Admissions Appeal tribunal hears the case, and if successful, your child will be offered a place at the school of choice.
In Scotland, most appeals will be dealt with by your local authority, external. Appeals for children with additional support needs can be made to a tribunal, external.In Scotland, most appeals will be dealt with by your local authority, external. Appeals for children with additional support needs can be made to a tribunal, external.
Wealthy are biggest winners from school appealsWealthy are biggest winners from school appeals