Normal school admissions

What is a normal admission round?

Normal admissions are when a child is starting school for the first time, transferring from an infant to a junior school at the end of Year 2, or transferring from a primary school to secondary education at the end of Year 6.

More detailed information about schools and admission is available in the booklets below and we would recommend that you read the appropriate guide for parents before making an application:

Starting Secondary School in September - a guide for parents (pdf 2.00mb opens in new window)

Starting Junior School in September - a guide for parents (pdf 1.07mb opens in new window)

Starting Primary or Infant School in September - a guide for parents (2.5mb opens in new window)

Different types of school

You can read a description of the different types of school eg. academies, free schools, faith schools, city technology colleges, state boarding schools and private schools on the GOV.UK website:

GOV.UK - Types of school - overview (external website)

Catchment Areas

Most schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire have a defined catchment area. Children living in a school's catchment area have a high priority for a place at the school.  An interactive map showing school catchment areas in East Riding of Yorkshire can be found here:

East Riding of Yorkshire School Catchment Area Map (external website)

Some schools do not have catchment areas. These are the Roman Catholic primary schools in the area. For details of the admissions arrangements for these schools, see the Guide for Parents - Primary available above.

How do I make an application for a school place?

The normal admissions round for first admission to infant, primary, junior and secondary school places for September 2022 will commence in September 2021 and more information about this process will be published closer to that date.

Deadline dates

Infant, primary or junior schools

For the 2022-2023 admissions round the closing date for applications for first admission to infant, primary or junior school is 15 January 2022.  

Secondary schools

The closing date for secondary applications is 31 October 2021.

How we use your data

If you have any questions about how the data you provide in a school admissions application is dealt with, please see our privacy notice:

School Admissions Privacy Notice (pdf 175 kb opens in new window)

When will I know the result of my application?

The results for secondary school applications made during the 2021-22 admissions round will be sent to parents on 1 March 2021. 

The results of infant and junior school applications and the applications for school places for children who were born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, made during the 2021-2022 admissions round, will be sent to parents on 16 April 2021.

Below is information about what happened in the previous admissions round, including which schools were over-subscribed and what categories of children were given places under the schools' admission arrangements.  

Primary School Allocations 2021-2022

A summary of primary school allocations for 2021-2022 can be found via the link below:

Summary of primary school allocations for 2021-2022 (pdf 121kb)

Primary School Allocations 2020-2021

A summary of primary school allocations for 2020-2021 can be found via the link below:

Summary of primary school allocations for 2020-2021 (pdf 98kb)

Secondary School Allocations 2021-2022

A summary of secondary school allocations for 2021-2022 can be found via the link below:

Summary of secondary school allocations for 2021-2022 (pdf 76kb)

Secondary School Allocations 2020-2021

A summary of secondary school allocations for 2020-2021 can be found via the link below:

Summary of secondary school allocations for 2020-2021 (pdf 96kb)

I was unsuccessful in gaining a place at my preferred school. What are my options now?

All children living in the East Riding of Yorkshire whose parents apply for a school place will be given a school place. 

If a place cannot be given at a school named on the application form, the school admissions team will first try to give your child a place at your catchment area school. 

If this is not possible, the school admissions team will identify the nearest school in the East Riding of Yorkshire with a place available.

Waiting lists are maintained for places in the normal year of entry at East Riding of Yorkshire infant, junior, primary and secondary schools which are over-subscribed. A child’s name will be automatically put on the waiting list for a place at a school if the child has not been given a place at a school ranked as a higher preference. 

Waiting lists for the normal year of entry are then deleted at the end of the autumn term in December and are no longer used.  Waiting lists are not used for any other year groups.

What can I do if I am not happy with the school my child has been allocated?

Applicants refused a place at a school for their child will be given the right to appeal. Appeals will be heard by independent admission appeal panels.

You can find out more from the School admission appeals page.

What happens if I have missed the school application deadline?

You will not be able to apply online for a school place after the closing dates. 

You should contact the school admissions team for advice on what you should do.

Email: schooladmissions@eastriding.gov.uk

Tel: (01482) 392100