Primary school admissions

Page contents

Primary school admissions
Information following National Offer Day
South Gloucestershire admission authority schools
Academies and voluntary aided schools
Further information

Primary schools admissions

If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, you must apply for them to start primary school in September 2023. This is a very important decision and it is important that you read the South Gloucestershire Primary school admission guide before you apply. Applications for primary school admission must be submitted no later than 15 January 2023.

South Gloucestershire Council provide impartial advice, support, guidance and information about choosing a primary school. Remember there is no substitute for visiting the school(s) that you are considering. We suggest that you visit potential schools before making your preferences, as there are many things to consider such as travel arrangements. You can find your nearest primary schools on our schools directory. Please note, the distance shown is only intended as a guide and the actual distance used to process your application is measured in a direct line between the address point of the child’s home and a central point within the main school buildings using the Local Authority’s computerised mapping system.

Once you have read the primary school admission guide, you can either apply online or download and print the form. For more information about the online process please read the Apply online for a school place page.

It is important that you submit your application on time. Applications received after the closing date of the 15 January 2023 will only be looked at after the national offer day, which is the 17 April 2023.

Information following National Offer Day

Accepting the offered place

If you applied online, you should visit the admissions portal and update your application to accept either:

your highest rank preference, if you have been offered it
a lower rank preference or alternative offer if you were refused a place at your highest rank preference

If you applied by email or by post, you should receive a letter in the post with a response form. You may send your response to AdmissionsAndTransport@southglos.gov.uk

Preferred school not offered

If you have not been offered your preferred school(s), you can either:

accept the offer you have been given
remain on a waiting list for any vacancies which may occur at your preferred school(s) until end December 2023
change your preference(s) or indicate a change of circumstances
appeal for your preferred school(s)

Allocation statements are available to show how school places were allocated where the school was oversubscribed and why it was not possible to offer places to all children who applied. Statements and appeal forms for schools located in South Gloucestershire will be available on 17^th April 2023. Schools are listed alphabetically in either the South Gloucestershire admission authority section or Academies and Voluntary Aided schools section.

Before submitting an appeal please also read the guidance on the school appeals page.

If you have been refused a place at a school in another local authority, you will need to contact that local authority directly.