Applying to start secondary school in September 2025

Important actions to take before you apply for a secondary school place.

Watch a video about the important things to remember when you're applying for a secondary school place.

Important dates for the admission process for children starting secondary school in September 2025.

Find out what the admissions criteria are at schools across the borough.

See which secondary schools need you to complete their supplementary information form as well as naming the school on your application.

Find out how to decide which secondary schools to apply for.

Read our step-by-step guide to applying for a secondary school place.

See what supporting evidence you need to submit when you apply for secondary school places.

Find out how to accept or appeal an offer of a secondary school place for your child.

Find out what to do it you miss the closing date for secondary school place applications, move into the borough after the closing date or change address.

Find out how to appeal if your child isn’t offered a school you applied for.

Due to a change in legislation, parents will now need to apply for a secondary school place when the child is in year 5 rather than year 6.

Find information about what happens following your child’s offer of a place at a secondary school.

This map shows secondary schools in the borough. It also shows the distance of places offered last year to secondary schools under the home-to-school distance admissions criterion.

See the application and appeal numbers for 2025. Applications for admission in September 2026 are likely to be different.