Admission to primary and middle schools
September 2026
Information on how to apply for a school place for September 2026 will be available early August 2025.
September 2025
You need to apply for September 2025:
- if your child's fifth birthday is between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026 for a place at first, infant or primary school
- if your child will be in year 2 at an infant school in September 2024 for a junior or primary school
- if you child will be in year 4 at a first school in September 2024 for a place at middle or primary school
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 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:
- Infant class size guidance - further information on the legislation which limits an infant class (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) to 30 pupils
- how school places were allocated for September 2022, 2023 and 2024 entry
Please see the timeline below which includes important points to consider prior to making your application.
November
The application system will open on 1 November 2024. You should only use this system if your child lives in Staffordshire.
January
Applications will close on 15 January 2025.
- 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.
Applications sent to and received from other local authorities.
February
Application details and supporting documentation sent to academies, aided and foundation schools.
March
Academies, aided and foundations schools forward lists of all preferences ranked in accordance with their admission arrangements to the county council.
Provisional offers shared between local authorities.
Final offers exchanged between local authorities.
April
Parents receive outcomes on National Offer Day, 16 April 2025.
April - August
Processing of late applications and any available places allocated from waiting lists.
June - July
Appeals heard by independent appeal panels.
Making an application
Applications closed on 15 October 2025.
You can make a late application by completing the paper application form.
You must apply through the local authority where your child lives not where your preferred schools are located.
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 16 April 2025.