Starting secondary school (Year 7)
Children currently in Year 6 at a primary or junior school, or born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014, are able to start Year 7 in a secondary school in September 2025.
Applications for September 2025 are now closed
If you would still like to make an application, please visit our late applications page for more information.
Apply for a school place - UNDER REPAIR
Late applications
Offers will be made to late applicants on the following basis:
| Application received between | Offer made |
|---|---|
| 1 November - 31 December 2024 | W/C 10 March 2025 |
| 1 January - 28 February 2025 | W/C 17 March 2025 |
| 1 March - 31 March 2025 | W/C 14 April 2025 |
| 1 April - 30 April 2025 | W/C 12 May 2025 |
| 1 May - 31 May 2025 | W/C 16 June 2025 |
| 1 June - 30 June 2025 | W/C 7 July 2025 |
| 1 July - 14 July 2025 | W/C 21 July 2025 |
| 15 July - 31 July 2025 | W/C 11 August 2025 |
| 1 August - 11 August 2025 | W/C 18 August 2025 |
| 12 August - 18 August 2025 | W/C 25 August 2025 |
| 19 August - 31 August 2025 | W/C 1 September 2025 |
| From 1 September 2025 onwards | Managed as per in-year timescales |
Secondary school year groups
Secondary schools provide education for children between 11 and 16 years of age. The National Curriculum organises the year groups as follows:
| Age | School year | Key stage |
|---|---|---|
| Between 11 and 12 | 7 | 3 |
| Between 12 and 13 | 8 | 3 |
| Between 13 and 14 | 9 | 3 |
| Between 14 and 15 | 10 | 4 |
| Between 15 and 16 | 11 | 4 |
An important part of this process is enabling them to get the best possible results at key stage 3 of the National Curriculum and the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) - the examination courses taken during years 10 and 11.
For main round applications, the school place offered will be for a full time place starting from 1 September 2025. Find out more about how to apply for a school place.
If you want to change schools part-way through the academic year, you will need to complete an in-year transfer application.
2025/26 admissions
You can now read information on the process for 'main round' admission into Year 7 for the 2025/26 academic year:
- Coordinated Scheme for Entry Into Year 7 at Secondary Schools (2025/26)
- SCC Secondary Admissions Policy (2025/26)
- Supplementary Information Form (SIF) (2025/26)
Other useful information
