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Statutory windows for Reception, Year 7, sixth form and appeals — across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Updated annually, no council-hopping required.
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Match my childDeadline reminders
Shortlist schools and we’ll email you 30 / 14 / 3 days before each deadline. No missed dates.
Build my shortlistSecondary applications open
89 daysTuesday, 1 September 2026
Apply for Year 7 places for September 2027 entry. Applications open on your local council's website.
Secondary application deadline
149 daysSaturday, 31 October 2026
National deadline for Year 7 (secondary school) applications for September 2027 entry. Late applications may reduce your chances.
Reception applications open
150 daysSunday, 1 November 2026
Apply for Reception places for September 2027 entry. Applications open on your local council's website.
Reception application deadline
225 daysFriday, 15 January 2027
National deadline for Reception (primary school) applications for September 2027 entry. Late applications may reduce your chances.
Secondary National Offer Day
270 daysMonday, 1 March 2027
All families receive their secondary school offer on this date (or the next working day if 1 March falls on a weekend).
Primary National Offer Day
316 daysFriday, 16 April 2027
All families receive their primary school offer on this date (or the next working day if 16 April falls on a weekend).
Secondary applications open
89 daysTuesday, 1 September 2026
Apply for Year 7 places for September 2027 entry. Applications open on your local council's website.
Secondary application deadline
149 daysSaturday, 31 October 2026
National deadline for Year 7 (secondary school) applications for September 2027 entry. Late applications may reduce your chances.
Reception applications open
150 daysSunday, 1 November 2026
Apply for Reception places for September 2027 entry. Applications open on your local council's website.
Reception application deadline
225 daysFriday, 15 January 2027
National deadline for Reception (primary school) applications for September 2027 entry. Late applications may reduce your chances.
Secondary National Offer Day
270 daysMonday, 1 March 2027
All families receive their secondary school offer on this date (or the next working day if 1 March falls on a weekend).
Primary National Offer Day
316 daysFriday, 16 April 2027
All families receive their primary school offer on this date (or the next working day if 16 April falls on a weekend).
P1 registration (typical)
156 daysSaturday, 7 November 2026
P1 registration typically opens in early November. Each council sets its own dates — check your local council website for exact deadlines.
S1 placing requests (typical)
194 daysTuesday, 15 December 2026
S1 placing request deadlines vary by council (typically December-January). Contact your council or check their website for the exact date.
Transfer Test (11+)
164 daysSunday, 15 November 2026
Transfer Test papers are typically sat in November. Children in Primary 7 take the test to apply for grammar school places. Check SEAG or GL Assessment for exact dates.
P1 application deadline
231 daysThursday, 21 January 2027
Deadline for Primary 1 applications via the EA Connect portal. Apply to up to 4 primary schools.
Post-primary application deadline
260 daysFriday, 19 February 2027
Deadline for Year 8 (post-primary) applications. Apply via the EA Connect portal.
P1 offer letters
292 daysTuesday, 23 March 2027
Primary 1 offer letters are sent to families.
In England and Wales, the national deadline for Reception applications is 15 January. Children starting Reception in September must be four by 31 August of the same year. Late applications are still accepted but considered after on-time ones.
The national deadline for Year 7 applications in England and Wales is 31 October. Applications submitted after this date are classified as late and processed after all on-time applications.
Primary National Offer Day is 16 April (or the next working day). Secondary National Offer Day is 1 March (or the next working day). In Northern Ireland, P1 offers go out around 23 March and post-primary offers in May. Scotland has no national offer day — each council publishes results at different times.
Yes. You have 20 school days from the date on your offer letter to submit an appeal. The appeal hearing must happen within 40 school days. Appeals are heard by an independent panel and the strongest grounds are normally (a) procedural errors, or (b) the case that the child’s needs outweigh the prejudice of adding another pupil to the school.
You apply to the local authority (council) where you live — not the school. This is true even if you want a school in a different council area. The exception is Northern Ireland, where applications go through the EA Connect portal.
Shortlist the schools you’re considering and we’ll email you 30, 14 and 3 days before each deadline — including school-specific open days and supplementary forms.