Before you apply (in year transfers)

Use the GOV.UK search tool to compare primary and secondary schools. 

This search tool allows you to:

• search for schools by postcode
• check school Ofsted ratings
• filter schools by religion or school type

You must use your child's current home address when applying. We may ask you to send us proof of address.

We do checks on addresses. If an application is found to be fraudulent or deliberately misleading, we will withdraw the offer of a place, even if a child has started at a school.

If you share custody of a child and you do not live together, you should use the address of the parent your child lives with for most of the time on your application. 

If your child spends equal amounts of time with both parents, we will consider the home of the parent who made the application to be the child’s home address.

Full details can be found in our parent guides.

Some, but not all, schools give priority to children who live within their Catchment Area or other priority area.

Living in a school's Catchment Area does not guarantee your child a place at the school. However, they are likely to receive a higher priority over children who live outside of it.

You should check that your child will be able to get to the schools that you are applying for.

Children can get help with transport to their nearest qualifying school if it is over the walking distance set out by legislation.

Each school has its own admissions arrangements. These are used to decide which children to offer a place to if there are more applications than places available.

You should read the admissions arrangements for each of the schools you want to apply for. This will help you to check what chance your child has of getting a place. 

If a school is already full, then the admissions arrangements will be used to determine the order of the waiting list.