Schools do not use a “first preference first” or “first come, first served” admissions policy, in line with the law.
Each school listed on your application will be considered individually and fairly against its published admission arrangements.If your child qualifies for a place at more than one of your preferred schools, they will be offered a place at the school ranked highest on your application. If none of your preferred schools can offer a place, your child will be allocated a place at a school with available spaces.
Priority for admission to children attending certain schools
Places are allocated strictly in line with the published admission arrangements.
While schools often work closely with their local pyramid schools, these links do not always form part of their admission arrangements and do not guarantee a place.
Attending a school named in the published admission arrangements for a particular secondary/high or junior/middle school does not guarantee admission. It simply means those pupils have a higher priority than children who, for example, live outside the defined catchment area or do not have an older sibling already attending the school.
Catchment areas
Some schools in Staffordshire do not operate a catchment area for admissions purposes.
Use our school search to check the catchment school for a specific address and view individual school’s catchment areas.
Your nearest school may not be your catchment school.
Admission to a catchment area school is not guaranteed; places are allocated based on availability in the relevant year group.
Admission numbers
Every school has a Published Admission Number (PAN) which indicates how many places are available.
You can find each school’s PAN in its admission arrangements, on the school search.
Infant class size legislation limits infant classes to no more than 30 pupils per qualified teacher.
Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme
The co-ordinated scheme explains how we work with neighbouring local authorities and schools that manage their own admissions.
Its purpose is to make sure every child living in Staffordshire receives one single offer of a school place—whether that place is at a school in Staffordshire or at a school located in a neighbouring authority.
Moving home
If you apply for a Staffordshire school for a September 2026 start, you need to provide proof of your new home address (for example, a solicitor’s letter confirming the completion date) by 23 January 2026 for secondary/high schools and 6 March 2026 for primary/middle schools for the new address to be considered when allocating school places.
Please note that simply stating an intention to move is not accepted as proof of living in the catchment area of an oversubscribed school.
For schools/academies located outside of Staffordshire please refer to their individual admission arrangements.
Key highlights from previous allocation year for September 2025
Secondary/High
- Summary of how September 2024 and 2025 places were allocated at oversubscribed schools.
- Secondary - almost 92% of first preferences allocated; over 99% one of the top three preferences allocated.
- High – 100% of first preferences allocated (excluding unsuccessful applications for the JCB Academy, Rocester)
Primary/Middle
- Summary of how September 2024 and 2025 places were allocated at oversubscribed schools (please see above)
- Reception – over 95% of first preferences allocated; over 99% one of the top three preferences allocated.
- Junior – 99% of first preferences allocated
- Middle S– over 94% of first preferences allocated
National Offer Day
02 March 2026 for secondary/high; 16 April 2026 for primary/middle
You will receive your school place offer from your home local authority.
If you live in Staffordshire and applied online you will receive an email advising you of the school offered
If you did not apply online you will receive a letter in the post within 5 working days of National Offer Day.
After you receive your offer
If you no longer require the place please email admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk and advise of the school your child will be attending.
All children who have been refused a place at a Staffordshire school will be automatically added to a waiting list which will be maintained until 31 December 2025 or the end of Year 2 if infant class size applies.
You have a statutory right of appeal to an independent panel if your child has not been offered a place at one or more of your preferred schools.
You can make a late application for any other school
A list of schools with places still available will be published on National Offer Day.