Introduction

Find out how to apply for a school place for your child starting in the next academic year, whether they are starting school for the first time, or moving to junior or secondary school.

The normal admissions round

Most school applications are made during the ‘normal admissions round’, which refers to applications for children who are starting school for the first time or moving to junior or secondary school at the usual points of entry.

Applications during the normal admissions round are made when:

• a child is starting primary school for the first time
• a child is transferring to junior school after finishing infant school
• a child is moving to secondary school for the first time after completing primary education.

If you are moving to the area or want to transfer schools mid-term, you’ll need to make an ‘in-year application’ instead.

Read more about in-year school admissions

Who can submit a school application

Only someone with full parental responsibility can apply for a child’s school place, and you must use your child's permanent home address with their parent or carer on the application.

If your child lives outside the East Riding, you should apply through your local council, even if the school you want is in the East Riding.

When to apply for a school place

It is very important to apply on time for your child’s school place. Missing the application deadline could mean that your application will be dealt with after national offer day and your child will be less likely to be offered a place at your preferred school.

To find out about important dates in the school admissions calendar, including when to apply, please visit our key dates page.

Late applications

If you miss the application deadline for the normal admissions round, you cannot apply online. You will need to request a late application form.

Late applications are processed as soon as possible, but you may not receive your offer by national offer day.

Before you apply for a school place

There are some important factors to consider before applying for your child’s school place:

• Choosing your preferred schools

  You can choose up to three schools in your application. You should list your preferences in order of choice, with your most preferred school first.

  Read more about choosing your preferred schools

• Applying for more than one school

  We strongly recommend applying for up to three schools on your application.

  This is because if you have only applied for one school, and we are not able to offer your child a place there or at your catchment area school, we will allocate a place at the next nearest school with spaces - which could be anywhere in the East Riding.

  Choosing only one school on your application will not increase your chances of getting a place there.

• Understanding catchment areas

  We strongly recommend that you choose your catchment school as one of your three preferences.

  Children living in a school’s catchment area have a higher priority for a place at that school, under most schools' oversubscription criteria, and for most children this is their nearest and most suitable school.

  You can read more about school catchment areas and find your catchment area school by visiting our school catchment areas page.

How school places are decided

Every application is processed according to:

• the School Admissions Code
• the admissions arrangements of each school
• each school's oversubscription criteria.

Places depend on availability. If your preferred schools are full, we will offer a place at the next nearest school with spaces available.

You can read more about how school allocations work by visiting about school admissions.

Further guidance

We recommend that parents and carers read the relevant guidance notes below before applying for a school place. These guides contain important information to help with your application and are available to download as PDFs: