Parents encouraged to apply for secondary school admissions
Parents of children who have started in year 6 this September are being reminded to submit their secondary school applications before the application deadline on Saturday 31 October 2026.
The county council is encouraging parents to use all four preferences to give their child the best chance of being offered a preferred school.
If parents only list one school on their application and there are no places available at that school, an alternative offer is made but this is not automatically at the catchment area school or the nearest school to their home.
Places can only be offered at the next closest school with places available after all other on-time applications have been processed – so if other families nearby have used all four of their preferences, their children will have a better chance of getting a place at a nearby school and those who only listed one preference could be admitted to a school further away.
Councillor Simon Wright, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, said: “Starting secondary school is a big step in a young person’s education so I am encouraging parents to make sure they use all four preferences when they apply.
“It does not guarantee a place at the preferred school, but it gives the best possible chance of getting a school that they would be happy for their child to attend. Last year over 98 per cent of families that applied on time were offered one of their preferred schools.”
Secondary school offers will be made on the secondary school National Offer Day, Monday 1 March 2027.
When making their application, parents should:
Apply on time – by 31 October. Applying late significantly reduces the chances of their child being allocated one of their preferred schools, as most places will have been allocated on National Offer Day to people who applied on time.
Check the admission oversubscription criteria – and include schools within the four preferences where the child will have high priority within the admission oversubscription criteria. Information about the criteria for Nottinghamshire schools can be found on the council’s website. All secondary schools in Nottinghamshire have their own oversubscription criteria – this can vary from school to school.
Use all four preferences – for the best chance at getting their child into a school they are happy with.
Include other relevant information - in the application, parents should mention any information which may affect how the admission oversubscription criteria are applied. Parents should also tell the council if they are moving house, as this may affect how the application is considered. It is important to read the relevant sections in Admissions to Schools: Guide for Parents 2027-2028.
For more information about the application process, schools, the number of places available or how places are allocated, please visit the admissions hub or call 0300 500 80 80.
