Admission to secondary and high school
September 2025
If your child will be in year 6 at a primary or junior school or year 8 in a middle school in September 2024, you will need to apply for a place at secondary/high school to start in September 2025.
See the timetable below for key dates in the process.
If you are moving to Staffordshire from abroad and have a child that requires a school place, please see the information on moving from overseas before making an application.
If you want to apply to change schools during the academic year, or your child is living in Staffordshire and does not currently have a school place, please view our information on in-year admissions.
Our online search and compare tool will help you to find information about your nearest schools, including performance information, teacher/pupil ratios and much more. You may also find the information on choosing a school helpful.
For information on:
Please see the timeline below which includes important points to consider prior to making your application.
September
The application system will open on 1 September 2024. You should only use this system if your child lives within Staffordshire.
October
Applications will close on 31 October 2024.
- Last year there were over 250 late applications. This may have affected the outcome of these applications.
- The late application policy (detailed in the published admission arrangements) will apply to those applications made after the closing date.
November
Applications sent to and received from other local authorities.
Application details and supporting documentation sent to academies, aided and foundation schools.
December
Academies, aided and foundations schools forward lists of all preferences ranked in accordance with their admission arrangements to the county council.
January
Provisional offers shared between local authorities.
February
Final offers exchanged between local authorities.
March
Parents receive outcomes on National Offer Day, 3 March 2025.
March - August
Processing of late applications and any available places allocated from waiting lists.
May - July
Appeals heard by independent appeal panels.
Making an application
The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. .
You must apply through the local authority where your child lives not where your preferred schools are located.
What if I can't apply online or have a problem?
You can:
- call us on 0300 111 8007 and select the option for 'School Admissions and Transport'
As a last resort, you can complete the relevant paper application form but it really is better to apply online.
Please note: Application forms sent by post or via email will not receive an acknowledgement of receipt and you will not receive your school place offer by email on 03 March 2025.
You can then either:
School Admissions and Transport Service,
Staffordshire County Council,
1 Staffordshire Place,
Stafford,
ST16 2DH
Applications for JCB Academy
JCB Academy requires applicants to take a CAT test as part of the application process. Please visit the academy website for further details once available.
Applications for JCB Academy remain open until 31 January 2025.
For a Year 9 place, please apply online or complete a paper application form and send to the School Admissions Team as detailed above.
Applications for University technical college (UTC)
Please see the UTC page for further information on how to apply.