When to apply, dates for offers, appeals and waiting lists for new year 7 secondary school place for 2026.

Important dates for new year 7 secondary applications
DateDetails
31 October 2025 Final date for applications
4 November 2025 Final date for changes of address
13 November 2025 By this date applications sent to the relevant local authority (LA)
25 November 2025 By this date Bristol sends details of applications received to own admission authority schools in Bristol
5 January 2026 By this date own admissions authority schools send lists of pupils to be offered and/or refused places at their schools, ranked in order, to Bristol LA
10 February 2026 By this date Bristol will provide other local authorities with the final list of pupils allocated places
2 March 2026 By this date Bristol informs all schools of final offers up to the Admission Number. Schools will not notify parents and carers of the results of the application process
2 March 2026 Offers of a school place sent to parents and carers, including offers on behalf of other local authorities and own authority schools
16 March 2026 By this date parents and carers must respond to the offer of a school place
22 April 2026 By this date Bristol LA informs schools of offers accepted
17 March to 2 April 2026 Details of those still seeking a place, including late applications to be exchanged between local authorities to enable a second round of allocations.
5 May  2026 The deadline for on-time appeals where we present appeals on behalf of the school or academy
From May 2026 Appeals held