School admissions criteria

All schools have admissions criteria to decide which children can be allocated places.

Your local council can give you a booklet about schools’ criteria and how to apply. If you’re applying for a school place after the start of the school year (eg changing schools), contact the council.

Admissions criteria are different for each school. For example, schools may give priority to children who have a brother or sister at the school already.

who live close to the school

from a particular religion (for faith schools)

who do well in an entrance exam (for selective schools eg grammar schools or stage schools)

who went to a particular primary school (a ‘feeder school’)

in care or being looked after (all schools must have this as a top priority)