Apply for a primary place
Apply for your child to start in the reception year at a primary or infant school or in year 3 at a junior school.
Before you apply
Before you apply we encourage you to do the following:
- read the relevant booklet (which contains guidance about the process and available schools) for the type of school you are applying to:
- find out what different schools have to offer your child
- if possible, visit schools you are interested in
- know which school is designated for your child’s address
- understand what equally ranked preferences mean
- be aware of the school transport policy – it is important that you understand who will be responsible for transport before applying to a school.
You should apply to the local authority where you live. For example, if Devon County Council is your local authority, you should apply on this site, but residents of Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset should apply to their local authority.
We will not assume that you want a place at a particular school – even if you have an older child who already attends or you live nearby.
Apply now
Apply online >
The closing date for children starting reception year at a primary or infant school, or year 3 at junior school in September 2015 was Thursday 15 January 2015.
Applications after this date will be considered late. To apply after this time please contact us on 0345 155 1019.
Don’t forget to:
- consider completing a ‘supplementary information form’ if there is one for the school
- consider a letter from a priest if one is required for the school
- express a preference for 1, 2 or 3 schools
- consider naming your designated school as one of your preferences
- provide accurate and complete information.
If you do not apply, the schools you prefer may be filled.
We won’t send you a paper application form unless you tell us you want one – by calling us on 0345 155 1019.
Late applications
Applications closed on Thursday 15 January 2015.
Remember:
- you cannot apply online after the closing date. To apply after this time please contact us on 0345 155 1019
- if your application is late, places at the schools you prefer may already have been filled – no places are held in reserve
- if your application is late you may be responsible for transport to and from a school further away from your home.
Offer day
If you applied online we will email your child’s offer of a school place on Thursday 16 April 2015. Please make sure your email address is kept up to date.
You can also log into your online account from 16 April to find out which school has been offered.
If you applied by post we will send a letter by second class post on 16 April.
We will offer your child one primary school place. If a place was available at more than one of your preferences, the offer will be for the school which was your highest preference. If none of your preferred schools could offer a place, we will make an offer at another school. This may be the school designated for your address if it has a vacancy remaining or the closest school to your child’s home with a vacancy.
What happens next
If you are happy with the school place offered to your child you do not need to do anything else.
If you are not happy with the offer find out how to appeal for a school place.