Admission to secondary and high school
September 2026
If your child will be in year 6 at a primary or junior school or year 8 in a middle school in September 2025, you will need to apply for a place at secondary/high school to start in September 2026.
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 2025. You should only use this system if your child lives within Staffordshire.
October
Applications will close on 31 October 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.
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, 2 March 2026.
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
Applications closed on 31 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 02 March 2026.
Applications for JCB Academy
JCB Academy requires applicants to take a fair banding assessment as part of the application process. Please visit the academy website and read the admission arrangements for further details.
Applications for JCB Academy close on 31 January 2026.
For a Year 9 place, please apply online or complete a paper application form.
Applications for University technical college (UTC)
Please see the UTC page for further information on how to apply.