Schools Applications Calendar
for UK Primary and Secondary School entry 2025
Note the dates and periods for each stage of the Primary School application process →
To help you narrow down the information for your area or target schools, use the link(s) provided which will take you to the most appropriate source of information.
Also, be sure to visit your target schools’ websites to check their dates for open days and the application process.
Check your local authority or target school websites for specific application window dates and deadlines where not given here.
•
Primary Schools applications calendar
This information covers both selective and non-selective schools.
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Reception Year in England
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective school entrance examinations
OPENS September – October 2024
CLOSES October – December 2024
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
September – October 2024
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for all Primary schools
Deadline: 15 January 2025
Last day to submit changes in your application
February 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit round 1 examinations
October 2024 – January 2025
Sit round 2 examinations (where applicable)
October 2024 – February 2025
Examination results released
October 2024 – February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
16 April 2025
• OFFERS OF PLACES FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Last day to accept offers
Late April 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting lists
OPENS 16 April 2025 onwards
OPEN UNITL August – December 2025
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
Late May 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearings
OPENS 16 April 2025 onwards
CLOSES late April – mid-May 2025
Results for appeal hearing
May – July 2025
Appeal results usually expected within 5 working days of hearing.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
July 2025
For the specific dates applicable in England, please check:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-primary-school-place
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Year 1 in Northern Ireland
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
December 2024 – January 2025
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for all Primary schools
OPENS early January 2025
CLOSES late January 2025
Last day to submit changes in your application
February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
Late April 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
OPENS late April 2025
OPEN UNTIL September 2025 – June 2026
Processing of late applications also begins here.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
Late April 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearings
OPENS late April 2025
CLOSES early May 2025
Expect results of appeal hearings
July – August 2025
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
June – July 2025
For the specific dates applicable in Northern Ireland, please check:
https://www.eani.org.uk/parents
This is the calendar for August 2025 entry to Primary 1 in Scotland
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
September – November 2024
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective school entrance examinations
October – December 2024
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Receive information about Primary School entry
October 2024 – February 2025
Register for catchment schools
January – 15 March 2025
Reply to council’s offer and/or enrol on schools
March – April 2025
• APPLICATIONS FOR PLACING REQUESTS
Submit applications for Placing Requests
January – 15 March 2025
Schools respond to Placing Requests
April – June 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit entrance exams for selective schools
January – March 2025
Examination results released
January – March 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting list
OPENS March – May 2025
OPEN UNTIL September 2025 – August 2026
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
May 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearing
Apply within 28 days of school decisions.
OPENS May 2025
CLOSES June 2025
Results for appeal hearing released
May – July 2025
Appeal results usually expected within 2 weeks of hearing.
Further application is required if you wish to re-apply for next year.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
May – July 2025 where applicable
For the specific dates applicable in Scotland, please check:
https://www.mygov.scot/register-your-child-for-a-school
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Reception year in Wales
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective school entrance examinations
OPENS September – October 2024
CLOSES October – December 2024
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
September – October 2024
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for all Primary Schools
November 2024 – January 2025
Last day to submit changes in your application
February 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit round 1 examinations
October 2024 – January 2025
Sit round 2 examinations (where applicable)
October 2024 – February 2025
Examination results released
October 2024 – February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
16 April 2025
Your local authority will provide you with the deadline of accepting an offer.
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting list
OPENS 16 April 2025
OPEN UNTIL August – December 2025
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
Late May 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearing
OPENS 16 April 2025
CLOSES late April – mid-May 2025
Results for appeal hearing
May – July 2025
Appeal results are usually expected within 5 working days of hearing.
Further application is required if you wish to re-apply for next year.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
July 2025
For the specific dates applicable in Wales, please check:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-secondary-school-place
•
Secondary Schools applications calendar
This information covers both selective and non-selective schools.
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Year 7 in England
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective Secondary School entrance examinations
OPENS April – July 2024
CLOSES June – November 2024
Apply for scholarships and bursaries
October – December 2024
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
September – October 2024
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for all Secondary Schools
OPENS 1 September 2024
CLOSES 31 October 2024
Last day to submit changes in your application
December 2024
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit entrance exams for selective schools
Sit round 1 examinations
September 2024 – January 2025
Sit round 2 examinations (where applicable)
October 2024 – February 2025
Sit scholarship assessments for private schools
September 2024 – January 2025
Examination results released
October 2024 – February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
3 March 2025
• OFFERS OF PLACES FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Last day to accept offers
Mid-March 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting lists
OPENS 3 March 2025
OPEN UNTIL August 2025 – July 2026
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
Late April 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearings
OPENS 3 March 2025
CLOSES late March – early April 2025
Results for appeal hearing released
April – June 2025
Appeal results are usually released within 5 working days of hearing.
Further application is required if you wish to re-apply for next year.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
July 2025
For the specific dates applicable in England, please check:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-secondary-school-place
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Year 8 in Northern Ireland
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for SEAG Transfer Tests for selective schools
OPENS 20 May 2024
CLOSES 20 September 2024
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
December 2024 – January 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit SEAG Transfer Tests for selective schools
Round 1 examinations
16 November 2024
Round 2 examinations
23 November 2024
Examination results released
January 2025
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Parents to complete online application process
OPENS 1 February 2025
CLOSES 23 February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
21 May 2025
Last day to accept offers
Mid-March 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting lists
OPENS June 2025
OPEN UNTIL September 2025 – June 2026
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
June 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearing
OPENS June 2025
CLOSES early July 2025
Results of appeal hearing released
July – August 2025
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
June – July 2025
For the specific dates applicable to Secondary Schools in Northern Ireland, please check:
https://www.eani.org.uk/parents
This is the calendar for August 2025 entry to S1 in Scotland
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend School Open Days (where applicable)
September – November 2024
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective school entrance examinations
OPENS September – November 2024
CLOSES November – December 2024
Apply for scholarships and bursaries
December 2024 – February 2025
• REGISTRATION FOR CATCHMENT SCHOOLS
Receive information about Secondary School transfer
November 2024 – February 2025
Register for catchment schools
November 2024 – February 2025
Reply to council’s or schools’ offer (where applicable, depending on your local council’s method)
March 2025
• APPLICATIONS FOR PLACING REQUESTS
Submit applications for Placing Requests
February – 15 March 2025
Schools respond to Placing Requests
March – June 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit entrance exams for selective schools
January – March 2025
Sit scholarship assessments for private schools
January – March 2025
Examination results released
January – March 2025
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting lists
OPENS March – May 2025
OPEN UNTIL September 2025 – August 2026
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
May 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearings
Apply within 28 days of school decisions.
OPENS May 2025
CLOSES June 2025
Results for appeal hearing
Appeal results usually expected within 2 weeks of hearing.
May – July 2025
Further application is required if you wish to re-apply for next year.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
May – July 2025
For the specific dates applicable to Secondary Schools in Scotland, please check:
https://www.mygov.scot/register-your-child-for-a-school
This is the calendar for September 2025 entry to Year 7 in Wales
• REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Register for selective Secondary School entrance examinations
OPENS April – July 2024
CLOSES June – November 2024
Apply for scholarships and bursaries
October 2024 – January 2025
• SCHOOL OPEN DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Register your interest with each school to attend their Open Day (where applicable)
April – October 2024
• APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for all Secondary Schools
OPENS 1 September – early October 2024
CLOSES November 2024 – January 2025
• ENTRANCE EXAMS FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS
Sit entrance exams for selective schools
Sit round 1 examinations
September 2024 – January 2025
Sit round 2 examinations (where applicable)
October 2024 – February 2025
Sit scholarship assessments for private schools
November 2024 – January 2025
Examination results released
October 2024 – February 2025
! NATIONAL OFFER DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Offers of places at schools communicated to applicants
3 March 2025
Your local authority will provide you with the deadline of accepting an offer.
• WAITING LISTS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for waiting lists
OPENS 3 March 2025
OPEN UNTIL 30 September 2025
Processing of late applications also begins at this stage.
Schools offer vacant places to those on waiting list
Late April 2025 onwards
• APPEALS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Submit applications for appeal hearings
OPENS 3 March 2025
CLOSES March – May 2025
Results for appeal hearing released
April – June 2025
Appeal results are usually released within 5 working days of hearing.
Further application is required if you wish to re-apply for next year.
• INDUCTION DAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
Attend Induction days (where applicable)
July 2025
For the specific dates applicable to Secondary School applications in Wales, please check:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-secondary-school-place
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