- generic [active] [ref=f24e1]:
  - link "Skip to main content" [ref=f24e2] [cursor=pointer]:
    - /url: "#main-content"
  - banner [ref=f24e3]:
    - link "SchoolCompare home" [ref=f24e5] [cursor=pointer]:
      - /url: /
      - img [ref=f24e7]
      - generic [ref=f24e11]: SchoolCompare
  - navigation "Main navigation" [ref=f24e12]:
    - link "Search" [ref=f24e13] [cursor=pointer]:
      - /url: /
      - img [ref=f24e15]
      - generic [ref=f24e18]: Search
    - link "3 selected Compare" [ref=f24e19] [cursor=pointer]:
      - /url: /compare
      - generic [ref=f24e20]:
        - img [ref=f24e21]
        - generic "3 selected" [ref=f24e24]: "3"
      - generic [ref=f24e25]: Compare
    - link "Rankings" [ref=f24e26] [cursor=pointer]:
      - /url: /rankings
      - img [ref=f24e28]
      - generic [ref=f24e29]: Rankings
    - link "Admissions" [ref=f24e30] [cursor=pointer]:
      - /url: /admissions
      - img [ref=f24e32]
      - generic [ref=f24e35]: Admissions
  - main [ref=f24e36]:
    - generic [ref=f24e37]:
      - complementary "On this page" [ref=f24e38]:
        - list [ref=f24e39]:
          - listitem [ref=f24e40]:
            - link "Primary" [ref=f24e41] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#primary"
              - generic [ref=f24e43]: Primary
          - listitem [ref=f24e44]:
            - link "Secondary" [ref=f24e45] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#secondary"
              - generic [ref=f24e47]: Secondary
          - listitem [ref=f24e48]:
            - link "Tips" [ref=f24e49] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#tips"
              - generic [ref=f24e51]: Tips
      - generic [ref=f24e52]:
        - generic [ref=f24e53]:
          - generic [ref=f24e54]: England · Primary & Secondary
          - heading "School Admissions Guide" [level=1] [ref=f24e56]
          - paragraph [ref=f24e57]: Everything parents need to know about applying for a school place in England — from opening dates to National Offer Day, with live countdowns to every key milestone.
        - generic [ref=f24e58]:
          - generic [ref=f24e59]: Days until next milestone
          - generic [ref=f24e60]:
            - generic [ref=f24e61]:
              - generic [ref=f24e62]: Primary · Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f24e64]: 288days
              - generic [ref=f24e65]: Primary National Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f24e66]: Fri, 16 April 2027
            - generic [ref=f24e67]:
              - generic [ref=f24e68]: Secondary · Deadline
              - generic [ref=f24e70]: 121days
              - generic [ref=f24e71]: Secondary applications close
              - generic [ref=f24e72]: Sat, 31 October 2026
            - generic [ref=f24e73]:
              - generic [ref=f24e74]: Primary · Deadline
              - generic [ref=f24e76]: 197days
              - generic [ref=f24e77]: Primary applications close
              - generic [ref=f24e78]: Fri, 15 January 2027
            - generic [ref=f24e79]:
              - generic [ref=f24e80]: Secondary · Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f24e82]: 242days
              - generic [ref=f24e83]: Secondary National Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f24e84]: Mon, 1 March 2027
        - generic [ref=f24e85]:
          - generic [ref=f24e86]:
            - generic [ref=f24e87]:
              - generic [ref=f24e88]: Reception entry
              - heading "Primary school admissions" [level=2] [ref=f24e89]
              - paragraph [ref=f24e90]: For children starting Reception (Year R) in September. Applications are submitted in the autumn of the year before entry.
            - generic [ref=f24e91]:
              - generic [ref=f24e92]:
                - generic [ref=f24e93]: Deadline
                - generic [ref=f24e94]: Fri, 15 January 2027
              - generic [ref=f24e95]:
                - generic [ref=f24e96]: Offer Day
                - generic [ref=f24e97]: Fri, 16 April 2027
          - list [ref=f24e98]:
            - listitem [ref=f24e99]:
              - generic [ref=f24e103]:
                - generic [ref=f24e104]: Research entry criteria
                - paragraph [ref=f24e105]: Faith schools, language units, and distance-based catchments differ by school. Start by reading each school's admissions policy on their website or the council's website.
                - link "Find schools & view their admissions history" [ref=f24e106] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Find schools & view their admissions history
                  - generic [ref=f24e107]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e108]:
              - generic [ref=f24e112]:
                - generic [ref=f24e113]: September
                - generic [ref=f24e114]: Portal opens
                - paragraph [ref=f24e115]: Apply through your home council's portal, even if your preferred school is in another borough. Most councils accept applications from September.
                - link "Build and compare your shortlist" [ref=f24e116] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Build and compare your shortlist
                  - generic [ref=f24e117]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e118]:
              - generic [ref=f24e122]:
                - generic [ref=f24e123]: 15 January
                - generic [ref=f24e124]: Application deadline
                - paragraph [ref=f24e125]: List up to 3–6 schools (the number varies by council) in genuine preference order. The equal preference rule means all preferences are considered before any offers are made.
                - link "Compare performance to order your preferences" [ref=f24e126] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Compare performance to order your preferences
                  - generic [ref=f24e127]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e128]:
              - generic [ref=f24e132]:
                - generic [ref=f24e133]: 16 April
                - generic [ref=f24e134]: National Offer Day
                - paragraph [ref=f24e135]: Results are published online. Reception offers are sent on 16 April (or the next working day if that falls on a weekend or bank holiday).
                - link "Look up your allocated school" [ref=f24e136] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Look up your allocated school
                  - generic [ref=f24e137]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e138]:
              - generic [ref=f24e142]:
                - generic [ref=f24e143]: ~1 May
                - generic [ref=f24e144]: Accept or decline
                - paragraph [ref=f24e145]: Respond by your council's deadline, typically around 1 May. Accepting secures the place while you wait to see if a preferred school's waiting list moves.
                - link "Weigh your offer against your other choices" [ref=f24e146] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Weigh your offer against your other choices
                  - generic [ref=f24e147]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e148]:
              - generic [ref=f24e151]:
                - generic [ref=f24e152]: Appeals
                - paragraph [ref=f24e153]: Infant class-size appeals (Reception to Year 2) have a very narrow legal test and a low success rate. For Year 3+, appeals follow the same process as secondary.
                - link "Gather performance evidence for your case" [ref=f24e154] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Gather performance evidence for your case
                  - generic [ref=f24e155]: →
        - generic [ref=f24e156]:
          - generic [ref=f24e157]:
            - generic [ref=f24e158]:
              - generic [ref=f24e159]: Year 7 entry
              - heading "Secondary school admissions" [level=2] [ref=f24e160]
              - paragraph [ref=f24e161]: For children starting secondary school (Year 7) in September. Applications are submitted in the autumn of Year 6.
            - generic [ref=f24e162]:
              - generic [ref=f24e163]:
                - generic [ref=f24e164]: Deadline
                - generic [ref=f24e165]: Sat, 31 October 2026
              - generic [ref=f24e166]:
                - generic [ref=f24e167]: Offer Day
                - generic [ref=f24e168]: Mon, 1 March 2027
          - list [ref=f24e169]:
            - listitem [ref=f24e170]:
              - generic [ref=f24e174]:
                - generic [ref=f24e175]: Check entry criteria
                - paragraph [ref=f24e176]: Look at each school's admissions policy — catchment areas, faith criteria, sibling priority, and aptitude tests vary widely.
                - link "Find schools & view their admissions history" [ref=f24e177] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Find schools & view their admissions history
                  - generic [ref=f24e178]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e179]:
              - generic [ref=f24e183]:
                - generic [ref=f24e184]: September
                - generic [ref=f24e185]: Portal opens
                - paragraph [ref=f24e186]: Your local council opens its online admissions portal. Register early to avoid last-minute technical issues. You apply through your home council even if you prefer schools in neighbouring boroughs.
                - link "Build and compare your shortlist" [ref=f24e187] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Build and compare your shortlist
                  - generic [ref=f24e188]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e189]:
              - generic [ref=f24e193]:
                - generic [ref=f24e194]: 31 October
                - generic [ref=f24e195]: Application deadline
                - paragraph [ref=f24e196]: Submit your ranked list of up to six schools. Councils treat all preferences equally — list schools in the genuine order you want them, not strategically.
                - link "Compare performance to order your preferences" [ref=f24e197] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Compare performance to order your preferences
                  - generic [ref=f24e198]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e199]:
              - generic [ref=f24e203]:
                - generic [ref=f24e204]: 1 March
                - generic [ref=f24e205]: National Offer Day
                - paragraph [ref=f24e206]: Results are published online, usually from 12:01 am. You'll receive an email or letter with your allocated school.
                - link "Look up your allocated school" [ref=f24e207] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Look up your allocated school
                  - generic [ref=f24e208]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e209]:
              - generic [ref=f24e213]:
                - generic [ref=f24e214]: ~15 March
                - generic [ref=f24e215]: Accept or decline
                - paragraph [ref=f24e216]: Respond by the deadline your council gives — typically around 15 March. Accepting does not prevent you from keeping a place on a waiting list for a preferred school.
                - link "Weigh your offer against your other choices" [ref=f24e217] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Weigh your offer against your other choices
                  - generic [ref=f24e218]: →
            - listitem [ref=f24e219]:
              - generic [ref=f24e222]:
                - generic [ref=f24e223]: Appeals
                - paragraph [ref=f24e224]: If unsuccessful, you can appeal within 20 school days of the refusal letter. Secondary appeals consider whether prejudice to the school outweighs your case — success rates vary.
                - link "Gather performance evidence for your case" [ref=f24e225] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Gather performance evidence for your case
                  - generic [ref=f24e226]: →
        - generic [ref=f24e227]:
          - heading "Three things most parents get wrong" [level=2] [ref=f24e228]
          - generic [ref=f24e229]:
            - generic [ref=f24e230]:
              - generic [ref=f24e231]: "01"
              - heading "Equal preference rule" [level=3] [ref=f24e232]
              - paragraph [ref=f24e233]: Councils rank offers by your eligibility for each school, not by the order you listed them. You cannot game the system — put schools in the order you actually want them.
            - generic [ref=f24e234]:
              - generic [ref=f24e235]: "02"
              - heading "Late applications go to the back" [level=3] [ref=f24e236]
              - paragraph [ref=f24e237]: Submit before the deadline even if your child does not turn the required age until later in the year. Late applicants are only considered after all on-time applications.
            - generic [ref=f24e238]:
              - generic [ref=f24e239]: "03"
              - heading "Waiting lists" [level=3] [ref=f24e240]
              - paragraph [ref=f24e241]: You can go on waiting lists for multiple schools simultaneously. Lists are ordered by admissions criteria, not when you joined. They can move significantly over the summer.
  - contentinfo [ref=f24e242]:
    - generic [ref=f24e243]:
      - generic [ref=f24e244]:
        - generic [ref=f24e245]:
          - heading "SchoolCompare" [level=3] [ref=f24e246]
          - paragraph [ref=f24e247]: Compare primary and secondary schools across England.
          - link "contact@schoolcompare.co.uk" [ref=f24e248] [cursor=pointer]:
            - /url: mailto:contact@schoolcompare.co.uk
        - generic [ref=f24e249]:
          - heading "Product" [level=4] [ref=f24e250]
          - list [ref=f24e251]:
            - listitem [ref=f24e252]:
              - link "Search schools" [ref=f24e253] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /
            - listitem [ref=f24e254]:
              - link "Rankings" [ref=f24e255] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /rankings
            - listitem [ref=f24e256]:
              - link "Compare shortlist" [ref=f24e257] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /compare
            - listitem [ref=f24e258]:
              - link "Admissions guide" [ref=f24e259] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /admissions
        - generic [ref=f24e260]:
          - heading "Resources" [level=4] [ref=f24e261]
          - list [ref=f24e262]:
            - listitem [ref=f24e263]:
              - link "School Performance Tables" [ref=f24e264] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables
            - listitem [ref=f24e265]:
              - link "Ofsted reports" [ref=f24e266] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
      - paragraph [ref=f24e268]: © 2026 SchoolCompare.co.uk
  - alert [ref=f24e269]