School Admissions

The Admissions Team supports children, families and schools in relation to applications for school places.

If you are seeking a place in Nursery, Reception or Year 7, for a September start, this will be supported by our Normal Round team.

If you are applying for your child to change school part way through the year, because you have moved or want your child to move to a different school, this will be supported by our In-Year team.

Nursery School Admissions - September 2019

The online application service to apply for a Stoke-on-Trent nursery class for September 2020 has now closed. Please contact the School Admissions Team on 01782 234598 for further information.

Every child is entitled to receive 570 hours of early years provision over a minimum of 38 weeks of the year (570 hours ÷ 38 weeks = 15 hours per week). Please Click here for further information.

If you are thinking of applying for faith based place at a Church Aided school or Academy, you should look at their Admissions Policy to see if any additional information is required and to help you decide whether your application is likely to be successful.

Notification e-mails and letters will be sent mid May 2020. Attending a nursery class does not guarantee a place in that school / academies' reception class. If you require further information, please contact the Admissions Team on: 01782 234598.

Many private, voluntary and independent childcare settings (including day nurseries, pre-schools and child minders) are also authorised to deliver Early Education for children aged three and four. To find out more about Early Education, Click here.

Primary School Admissions September 2020

The online application service to apply for a reception class place in September 2020 has now closed. Please contact the School Admissions Team on 01782 234598 for further information.

Notification e-mails are sent on 16 April 2020. Attending a nursery class does not guarantee a place in that school's / academies' reception class.

If you are thinking of applying for a faith based place at a Church Aided school or Academy, you should look at their Admissions Policy to see if any additional information is required and to help you decide whether your application is likely to be successful.

To view our list of Primary Schools / Academies in Stoke-on-Trent, please look in the Downloads section.

If you experience any difficulty in using the online facility please contact the Admissions Team on: 01782 234598.

Secondary School Admissions, September 2020

The online application service to apply for a Secondary School place in September 2020 has now closed. Please contact the School Admissions Team on 01782 234598 for further information.

Notification e-mails of allocated places are sent on 1 March 2020.

Some schools do not use catchment areas. You should look at each school's Admissions policy to see if any additional information is required and to help you decide whether your application is likely to be successful.

To view our list of Secondary Schools / Academies in Stoke-on-Trent, please look in the Downloads section.

In-Year Transfers

If you are moving into Stoke-on-Trent or from one end of the city to another, and wish your child to change school, you should first discuss the matter with your child's current school. If your child is experiencing difficulties at their current school and you consider that a transfer to an alternative school may be helpful, you should still discuss your child's situation with your current school before making a final decision. You should also think about how your child will get to an alternative school, which may be some distance away from your home.

You should also note that some pupils begin their GCSE courses in Year 9 and it will almost certainly be harmful to your child's education to change school once this important stage is reached.

If, after discussion and careful consideration, a transfer may be beneficial to your child, you will need to complete an in-year transfer request form. This will be provided by the school that you wish your child to attend. Please be aware that some schools request supplementary information such as Baptismal Certificates. Once you have completed the in-year transfer request form, you must return it directly to the school / academy. The school / academy will then decide whether they can offer your child a place and will notify you of the outcome. Should a place not be available for your child, you may then approach another school / academy. In this instance, the Local authority will send you a letter confirming the refusal and in it will outline your right of Appeal.

Details of all Stoke-on-Trent schools are in our booklets - see Downloads section.

If you need further advice on the in-year process, please contact the Admissions Team on 01782 237856.