Secondary admissions

Applying on time

Every year we strongly encourage parents and carers to apply on time for secondary school places for their children. Applying on time gives a far greater chance of securing a place at a preferred school. Unfortunately late applications can only be considered once all on time applications are processed and so parents and carers applying late will not receive an outcome until several weeks after national offer day.

How will my application be considered?

Once an application is received by the Local Authority, a process will be applied:

• Details on the application will be checked against any data already held by the Local authority. If we find a discrepancy between the data stated on the application and the data held verification may be required. If you indicate that there is a sibling already attending the preferred school on your application and the address we hold for the sibling is different to the address stated on the application, a ‘sibling’ criteria will not be assigned. Ensure that the school holds the most up to date information to avoid any complications.
• Preferences received for Aided Schools, Academies and Free Schools will be forwarded to the relevant admission authority together with any additional information for their consideration
• Preferences for other English Local Authority Schools will be forwarded to the relevant authority for their consideration

A criteria is assigned for each preference by the relevant admission authority based on the information stated on your application. Please see Section 3 for the oversubscription criteria for each school. Please note the policy may have changed from previous years.

What happens if I need to amend my application?

Once your application has been downloaded by the admission team, you cannot make any changes to your application using the parent portal.

If your circumstances change and you need to amend your application you will need to contact the admissions team.

School preference changes can be made providing you have contacted us before the closing date of 31 October 2025 stating your reasons for your change of preferences.

When will I know the outcome of my on time application?

Offers for secondary school places will be posted out on the 2 March 2026 to those parents/carers who have applied using a paper application.

If you applied online you will receive your offer by email and you can log on to your account to view the school place offered on 2 March 2026.

Voluntary (church aided) school applications

If you name a church aided schools as a preference they may request written confirmation of religious commitment, e.g. by means of a letter of support from a church minister or for admission to Catholic schools, evidence of baptism.

Applications for pupils to be admitted outside their chronological year group

Applications for admission to Cheshire West and Chester schools, and any appeals, are considered in relation to the availability of places in the child’s chronological age group.

Applications should be made in the normal way, however, if parents/carers wish to move their child out of their chronological age group. i.e. defer entry/early transfer, they should apply for a place as normal but accompany their application with their request. The admission authority of the school/academy will then review your request, and you will be informed in writing if entry into a different chronological year group has been agreed. Please note that almost all children in Cheshire West and Chester are educated within their correct chronological year group in accordance with government guidance.