Families move house, change jobs and return from abroad throughout the year, not just in September. Finding a school place outside the normal admissions round is called an in-year application, and it works quite differently. This guide explains how it works in England and how to give yourself the best chance.
What counts as an in-year application?
Any application for a place outside the main entry points: when a child moves to a new area, when they are changing schools mid-year, when a family arrives from abroad, or when a child needs a different setting. The "normal" round covers Reception and Year 7 entry, with national deadlines and offer dates. Everything else is in-year.
How the process works
1. Find out who handles applications. In many areas you apply to the local authority. In others you apply directly to each school you are interested in, especially academies and some voluntary-aided schools. The council's website explains which applies.
2. Apply to more than one school. There may be no space in the one you prefer. Applying to several increases your chances of a quick offer, and the application form will say how many you can name.
3. Expect the school's own rules to apply. Oversubscription criteria still apply if there are more applicants than places. See how admissions criteria work.
4. Ask about waiting lists. If the year group is full, ask to be added to the waiting list, and ask where your child ranks.
How long does it take?
Councils and schools have to deal with in-year applications promptly, but timescales differ. It can take a few weeks, and it can take longer in busy areas or at busy points of the school year. Start as early as you can, ideally as soon as you know you are moving.
If your child has no school place
By law, your child should not be left without education for long. If you cannot find a place, tell the local authority, which has duties to help. Children in certain circumstances, for example those who are in care or at risk of exclusion, may be covered by fair access protocols that give them priority for places in some schools.
Moving from abroad
Families arriving from overseas can apply once they have a UK address. Councils may ask for proof of address, your child's date of birth and, where relevant, your right to live in the UK. Plan paperwork ahead, because delays in documents can delay offers. If you are returning to England after living abroad, it is worth speaking to the local authority as soon as you have a confirmed address.
Moving mid-year at secondary level
Moving in the middle of GCSE or A-Level courses is especially difficult, because schools may offer different exam boards and options. Ask the new school early about which courses and boards it uses, whether your child can continue theirs, and what support there is to catch up.
Visiting and deciding
If you can, visit before you apply, or ask for a virtual tour. Read our list of questions in how to visit a school. Visits matter even more when you have little time, because you want to avoid moving a child twice.
If you are refused
You can appeal against a refusal, as with the main round. See school admission appeals. Waiting lists often move quickly when other families change plans.
How we help
Moving schools is a big change for a child. We help families find a realistic shortlist, understand availability, and plan the timing and the transition. Take a look at our school and nursery placement service.
