Summer is over and it is that time again. If your child is due to leave their primary school next summer, you need to apply for a high school place.

For children due to start year 7 at a high school in September 2027, you have just over a month to choose your preferences. But you can do it right now – applications are open.

The recommended deadline for sending in your application is 23 October 2026. And the absolute latest, final, date is 31 October 2026.

Choosing which school your child will attend is a big decision and the applications process can sometimes feel daunting. The council’s admissions team does all it can to make the application process as easy as possible.

And local high schools hold open mornings and evenings so you can get a feel for them before making a final decision. You can view dates and times of the open events on the council’s website.

But, if you still need some support, you can visit the council’s website, contact the schools you are interested in, or speak to your child’s current school.

Schools information

To find out more about your preferred schools, you can visit the admissions pages on the council’s website, or alternatively, you can contact the schools themselves.

Each school will also be holding an open morning or evening – see the table on the next page to find out more.

How to apply

You can apply online between 1 September and 31 October 2026. If you are unable to apply online, you can ask your current school for an application form to fill in and ask it for instructions if anything is not clear.

If you choose to apply online, you must not complete a paper application as well. The Cardinal Wiseman (Catholic) and Twyford (Church of England) high schools require a supplementary information form to be completed to assess denominational commitment, and these may be obtained from the schools themselves.

More help

You can read all you need to know about applying for a school place on the council’s website.