Admissions

Moving from primary to secondary school

Starting secondary school in September 2028

If your child is in year 5, they will be due to start secondary school in September 2028. You must apply for your child to get a place at secondary school.

The application window for starting secondary school in September 2028 will open in summer 2027. You'll need to apply for a place by 31 October 2027. You can do this by following your local council's secondary school application process.

Admissions policies
View the school website to view the admissions policies (opens in a new tab)
Applying for a school place
Visit the local council's website for more information on applying for a school place (opens in a new tab)

Starting secondary school in September 2027

If your child is in year 6, they will be due to start secondary school in September 2027. Applications for starting secondary school in September 2027 closed on 31 October 2026.

If you missed the application deadline, you can still apply for a school place. You can do this by following your local council's secondary school application process.

If you apply for a school place after the deadline for applications, your child may be less likely to be offered a place at your preferred school.

Starting secondary school in September 2029

If your child is in year 4, they will be due to start secondary school in September 2029. The application window for starting secondary school in September 2029 will open in summer 2028. You'll need to apply for a place by 31 October 2028.

Schools must publish their policies for starting school in September 2029 by March 2028.

Moving schools during the school year

Moving schools during the school year

If your child is joining a school after the school year has started in September, you'll need to make an in-year application.

Depending on the school you're applying for, you'll either need to: 

  • make an in-year application through your local council 
  • apply directly to the school 

You can find information on which schools you'll need to apply directly to on your local council's website.  

View Somerset Council's in-year application process (opens in a new tab)

More information on secondary school admissions

Find out more about school admissions policies

All schools have admissions policies that explain how school places are allocated. These policies are either set by the local council or the school.  

Admissions policies are different for every school. As part of their admissions policies, some schools may give priority to children who live in a designated catchment area, but they do not have to.

Schools do not have to have catchment areas. Some schools may use distance from the school instead.

Find out more about school admission criteria (opens in a new tab)

Further details about the school's admissions policies can be found on the school's website or on the council's website.

Further information schools may ask for

Some schools, for example faith schools, may require a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to be submitted as part of the school application process. SIFs request additional information and are used to determine whether a child meets the school's admission criteria.

Some types of schools, for example grammar schools or partially selective schools, require children to take a test after making an application to help decide which children get places. For example, this could be a music aptitude test. Grammar schools may require children to take a selection test. The school's admission arrangements should explain what is required.