School admissions

Who do I apply to for a school place for my child?

State-maintained schools

The School Admissions Team deals with applications for places at state-maintained, mainstream schools. Read more about how to apply.

Applications for places at other schools have to be made in the following ways:

Nursery schools or nursery places

Contact the nursery or the school directly using the East Riding School and Nursery Finder. 

Places in a school's sixth form

Contact the school directly using the East Riding School and Nursery Finder.

Special educational needs

Read more about applications for special educational needs.

How do I find out about schools in East Riding of Yorkshire?

You can find details of your local nurseries, primary and secondary schools via the East Riding School and Nursery Finder.

Alternatively, you can view school locations in the East Riding of Yorkshire using the downloadable pdf map:

East Riding School Finder Map (pdf 3mb)

How do I find out which catchment area my child is in?

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.

If you would like to find out which is your child's catchment area school, use the East Riding School and Nursery Finder, insert the child's main address or postcode, then check the "Or within Catchment Area" box in the 'Search by postcode and mile radius' section (click box to insert tick). Then click/tap the 'Search' button. The schools in the catchment area for the child's address will appear on the map, and will also be listed beneath the map.

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 Admissions Guidance available below:

In-Year School Admissions Application Form and Guidance Note (pdf 214kb)

Can I apply for a place at a school that is not my catchment areaschool?

There is no reason why your child cannot go to a school in another catchment area, but if you are naming it as your first choice school, you should think carefully about what your chances are of getting a place. 

How do I make an application for a school place?

If you want to apply for a place at a maintained mainstream school you will have to apply through the local authority responsible for the area where you live, even if you want a place for your child at a school in another local authority's area. You must only apply to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's School Admissions Team if you live in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

If you want to make an application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, there are two different ways to make your application, depending on your circumstances:

Normal school admissions

Normal school admissions are when a child is starting school for the first time, transferring from an infant school 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.

Read more about normal school admissions. 

In-year applications  

In-year applications are when a child is already attending a school and the parents want to move their child from one school to another, for example, if the family has moved to a different area.

Read more about in-year applications.

Who makes the decisions on my application?

East Riding of Yorkshire Council coordinates all admissions applications for maintained schools in East Riding of Yorkshire. School admission authorities will then make the decisions on who gets a place at the school. Most schools are community or voluntary -aided schools and the council is the admissions authority for these schools.

Academies, voluntary-aided and foundation schools are their own admission authorities and they make their own decisions on admissions.

For details on which type your school is please read more about using the East Riding School and Nursery Finder which will supply you with this information.

I am struggling to find a school. Can you give me any advice?

For most families, applying for a school is an easy and straight-forward matter, however, for some families, applying for a school place can be complicated because of various social, family or other reasons. 

The School Admissions Team is available to give advice and can answer most questions you might have.

How can I make an appeal against the allocation of a school place?

If you wish to make an appeal against an allocation of a school place you can do so by using the appeals form below: 

School Admissions Appeal Guidance and Forms (pdf 145kb)

Please note: before completing this form, please read the guidance on school admission appeals.

What are the council's 2018/19 admission arrangements for schools in East Riding of Yorkshire?

At its meeting on 28 February 2017, the cabinet of East Riding of Yorkshire Council determined the admission arrangements for community and voluntary schools and the coordinated schemes to be used for 2018/19 school admissions:

Determined Admission Arrangements 2018-2019 (pdf 436kb)

What are the council’s determined 2019/2020 admission arrangements for schools in East Riding of Yorkshire?

• At its meeting on 30 January 2018, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's cabinet determined the local authority's admission arrangements and coordinated schemes for 2019/2020:
  Determined Admission Arrangements 2019-2020 (pdf 452kb)

• Objections to these determined admission arrangements should be sent to the Schools Adjudicator by 15 May 2018.  Information about how to lodge an objection is available here: Objection to School Admission Arrangements Form 2019 (word 70kb)

What are the council's determined 2020/2021 admission arrangements for schools in East Riding of Yorkshire?

At its meeting on 26 February 2019, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's cabinet determined the local authority's admission arrangements and co-ordinated schemes for 2020/2021:

Determined Admission Arrangements 2020 -2021 (pdf 449kb)

Objections to these determined admission arrangements should be sent to the School Adjudicator by 15 May 2019.  Information about how to lodge an objection is available here:

Schools Adjudicator (external website)

How do I contact the School Admissions Team?

You can contact the School Admissions Team by using the methods below:

School Admissions Team 
East Riding of Yorkshire Council  
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley  
HU17 9BA  
Tel: (01482) 392100 
Email: schooladmissions@eastriding.gov.uk