Changing schools

How does the in-year admissions process work?

1. Before completing an in-year application form you should discuss the reasons for the change of school with your child's current head teacher. The head teacher will be required to provide key information to the new school.
2. It is your responsibility to read all the guidance on the school admissions pages before completing an application. 
3. You can find general information about filling in the form on our guidance page.
4. Your application will be processed no more than half a term (six weeks/30 school days) in advance of when the place is required.
5. Only one application per child can be processed at a given time. If you wish to change or withdraw your application, please let us know. 
6. We may seek clarification of details on your application, or request further information, including proof of address.
7. We will contact all your chosen schools to determine if there are places available in the appropriate year group.
8. We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application within 15 school days.
9. We will advise you via email (or via post if no email address has been provided) which preference can be offered and, where any higher preferences cannot be met, we will provide the reason for refusal and information on your right to an admission appeal.
10. Once you have received your offer it is important that you contact the school to finalise the admission, arrange a mutual start date and to discuss any issues regarding your child’s education. The date of admission to school is not set by the school admissions team, it is an agreement between the new school and parents. Wherever possible, your child should continue to attend their current school until an admission date is agreed.
11. If you do not wish to accept the offered place, you must notify us in writing within two weeks of the offer being made.
12. If we are unable to offer your child a place, we will confirm this via email, or via post if no email address has been provided. Our policy for in-year admissions is to only consider schools you have listed as a preference on your application. The outcome letter will contain information on next steps, including your right to an admission appeal.

Generally, it is better for a change of school to take place at the end of a half-term, term, or school year, to minimise the disruption to your child's education. However, where it is not practical for your child to remain at their current school, an alternative start date may be agreed.

Fair access protocol

The school admissions code states that each local authority must have a fair access protocol - FAP - that is agreed by the majority of schools in the area. The fair access protocol is to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible.

There is no duty for local authorities or admission authorities to comply with parental preference when allocating places through the fair access protocol, but parents’ views should be taken into account.

Your application may be considered under the in-year fair access protocol in the event that we are not able to offer your child a place through the in-year admissions process. We will notify you if this applies to your application.