If your child has not been offered a place at your preferred school, we'll automatically place their name on the waiting list.
How waiting list positions work
Waiting list positions are based on the school’s oversubscription criteria, not the date of application. This means:
If a child higher on the waiting list is offered and accepts a place, others move up
If a child declines a place or moves away, others may move up
If a new application is received and the child meets a higher category (for example, having a sibling on roll at the school), they may be ranked above existing applicants
If a child already on the waiting list has a change of circumstances meaning they now fall into a higher category, others may move down
These changes can result in a child’s position moving both up and down over time. Due to the large number of applications that we process, waiting list positions can change frequently.
Checking your place on the waiting list following the Secondary and Primary allocation offer days
You can find out your place on a school’s waiting list starting on:
- 1 April 2026 for secondary schools
- 11 May 2026 for primary schools
In-year transfers
If you apply to change schools partway through the year, and the school requested is full, you’ll be added to that school’s waiting list and have the right to appeal against the decision to refuse a place.
When a place becomes available.
Schools use their admissions policy (not first-come, first-served) to decide who gets the available place. Every child on the waiting list will be ranked in line with the policy and the child at the top of the waiting list will be offered a place.
If you move house
If your address changes, your position on the list might change too.
You may need to provide proof of your new address (like a rental agreement or confirmation of a house purchase) for the change address to be changed.
You can also ask to have your child removed from the waiting list at any time.
The school or the Local Authority may contact you to confirm if you wish to remain on the waiting list. Please do not ignore these contacts as they may result in your child losing their place on the waiting list.
Appealing the decision not to offer a place
Being on a waiting list doesn’t stop you from making a formal appeal for a place at the school.