- generic [active] [ref=f28e1]:
  - link "Skip to main content" [ref=f28e2] [cursor=pointer]:
    - /url: "#main-content"
  - banner [ref=f28e3]:
    - generic [ref=f28e4]:
      - link "SchoolCompare home" [ref=f28e5] [cursor=pointer]:
        - /url: /
        - img [ref=f28e7]
        - generic [ref=f28e11]: SchoolCompare
      - navigation "Main navigation" [ref=f28e12]:
        - link "Search" [ref=f28e13] [cursor=pointer]:
          - /url: /
        - link "Compare 3" [ref=f28e14] [cursor=pointer]:
          - /url: /compare
          - text: Compare
          - generic [ref=f28e15]: "3"
        - link "Rankings" [ref=f28e16] [cursor=pointer]:
          - /url: /rankings
        - link "Admissions" [ref=f28e17] [cursor=pointer]:
          - /url: /admissions
  - main [ref=f28e18]:
    - generic [ref=f28e19]:
      - complementary "On this page" [ref=f28e20]:
        - generic [ref=f28e21]: On this page
        - list [ref=f28e22]:
          - listitem [ref=f28e23]:
            - link "Primary" [ref=f28e24] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#primary"
              - generic [ref=f28e26]: Primary
          - listitem [ref=f28e27]:
            - link "Secondary" [ref=f28e28] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#secondary"
              - generic [ref=f28e30]: Secondary
          - listitem [ref=f28e31]:
            - link "Tips" [ref=f28e32] [cursor=pointer]:
              - /url: "#tips"
              - generic [ref=f28e34]: Tips
      - generic [ref=f28e35]:
        - generic [ref=f28e36]:
          - generic [ref=f28e37]: England · Primary & Secondary
          - heading "School Admissions Guide" [level=1] [ref=f28e39]
          - paragraph [ref=f28e40]: 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=f28e41]:
          - generic [ref=f28e42]: Days until next milestone
          - generic [ref=f28e43]:
            - generic [ref=f28e44]:
              - generic [ref=f28e45]: Primary · Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f28e47]: 288days
              - generic [ref=f28e48]: Primary National Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f28e49]: Fri, 16 April 2027
            - generic [ref=f28e50]:
              - generic [ref=f28e51]: Secondary · Deadline
              - generic [ref=f28e53]: 121days
              - generic [ref=f28e54]: Secondary applications close
              - generic [ref=f28e55]: Sat, 31 October 2026
            - generic [ref=f28e56]:
              - generic [ref=f28e57]: Primary · Deadline
              - generic [ref=f28e59]: 197days
              - generic [ref=f28e60]: Primary applications close
              - generic [ref=f28e61]: Fri, 15 January 2027
            - generic [ref=f28e62]:
              - generic [ref=f28e63]: Secondary · Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f28e65]: 242days
              - generic [ref=f28e66]: Secondary National Offer Day
              - generic [ref=f28e67]: Mon, 1 March 2027
        - generic [ref=f28e68]:
          - generic [ref=f28e69]:
            - generic [ref=f28e70]:
              - generic [ref=f28e71]: Reception entry
              - heading "Primary school admissions" [level=2] [ref=f28e72]
              - paragraph [ref=f28e73]: For children starting Reception (Year R) in September. Applications are submitted in the autumn of the year before entry.
            - generic [ref=f28e74]:
              - generic [ref=f28e75]:
                - generic [ref=f28e76]: Deadline
                - generic [ref=f28e77]: Fri, 15 January 2027
              - generic [ref=f28e78]:
                - generic [ref=f28e79]: Offer Day
                - generic [ref=f28e80]: Fri, 16 April 2027
          - list [ref=f28e81]:
            - listitem [ref=f28e82]:
              - generic [ref=f28e86]:
                - generic [ref=f28e87]: Research entry criteria
                - paragraph [ref=f28e88]: 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=f28e89] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Find schools & view their admissions history
                  - generic [ref=f28e90]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e91]:
              - generic [ref=f28e95]:
                - generic [ref=f28e96]: September
                - generic [ref=f28e97]: Portal opens
                - paragraph [ref=f28e98]: 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=f28e99] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Build and compare your shortlist
                  - generic [ref=f28e100]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e101]:
              - generic [ref=f28e105]:
                - generic [ref=f28e106]: 15 January
                - generic [ref=f28e107]: Application deadline
                - paragraph [ref=f28e108]: 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=f28e109] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Compare performance to order your preferences
                  - generic [ref=f28e110]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e111]:
              - generic [ref=f28e115]:
                - generic [ref=f28e116]: 16 April
                - generic [ref=f28e117]: National Offer Day
                - paragraph [ref=f28e118]: 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=f28e119] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Look up your allocated school
                  - generic [ref=f28e120]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e121]:
              - generic [ref=f28e125]:
                - generic [ref=f28e126]: ~1 May
                - generic [ref=f28e127]: Accept or decline
                - paragraph [ref=f28e128]: 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=f28e129] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Weigh your offer against your other choices
                  - generic [ref=f28e130]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e131]:
              - generic [ref=f28e134]:
                - generic [ref=f28e135]: Appeals
                - paragraph [ref=f28e136]: 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=f28e137] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Gather performance evidence for your case
                  - generic [ref=f28e138]: →
        - generic [ref=f28e139]:
          - generic [ref=f28e140]:
            - generic [ref=f28e141]:
              - generic [ref=f28e142]: Year 7 entry
              - heading "Secondary school admissions" [level=2] [ref=f28e143]
              - paragraph [ref=f28e144]: For children starting secondary school (Year 7) in September. Applications are submitted in the autumn of Year 6.
            - generic [ref=f28e145]:
              - generic [ref=f28e146]:
                - generic [ref=f28e147]: Deadline
                - generic [ref=f28e148]: Sat, 31 October 2026
              - generic [ref=f28e149]:
                - generic [ref=f28e150]: Offer Day
                - generic [ref=f28e151]: Mon, 1 March 2027
          - list [ref=f28e152]:
            - listitem [ref=f28e153]:
              - generic [ref=f28e157]:
                - generic [ref=f28e158]: Check entry criteria
                - paragraph [ref=f28e159]: 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=f28e160] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Find schools & view their admissions history
                  - generic [ref=f28e161]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e162]:
              - generic [ref=f28e166]:
                - generic [ref=f28e167]: September
                - generic [ref=f28e168]: Portal opens
                - paragraph [ref=f28e169]: 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=f28e170] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Build and compare your shortlist
                  - generic [ref=f28e171]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e172]:
              - generic [ref=f28e176]:
                - generic [ref=f28e177]: 31 October
                - generic [ref=f28e178]: Application deadline
                - paragraph [ref=f28e179]: 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=f28e180] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Compare performance to order your preferences
                  - generic [ref=f28e181]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e182]:
              - generic [ref=f28e186]:
                - generic [ref=f28e187]: 1 March
                - generic [ref=f28e188]: National Offer Day
                - paragraph [ref=f28e189]: 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=f28e190] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /
                  - text: Look up your allocated school
                  - generic [ref=f28e191]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e192]:
              - generic [ref=f28e196]:
                - generic [ref=f28e197]: ~15 March
                - generic [ref=f28e198]: Accept or decline
                - paragraph [ref=f28e199]: 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=f28e200] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /compare
                  - text: Weigh your offer against your other choices
                  - generic [ref=f28e201]: →
            - listitem [ref=f28e202]:
              - generic [ref=f28e205]:
                - generic [ref=f28e206]: Appeals
                - paragraph [ref=f28e207]: 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=f28e208] [cursor=pointer]:
                  - /url: /rankings
                  - text: Gather performance evidence for your case
                  - generic [ref=f28e209]: →
        - generic [ref=f28e210]:
          - heading "Three things most parents get wrong" [level=2] [ref=f28e211]
          - generic [ref=f28e212]:
            - generic [ref=f28e213]:
              - generic [ref=f28e214]: "01"
              - heading "Equal preference rule" [level=3] [ref=f28e215]
              - paragraph [ref=f28e216]: 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=f28e217]:
              - generic [ref=f28e218]: "02"
              - heading "Late applications go to the back" [level=3] [ref=f28e219]
              - paragraph [ref=f28e220]: 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=f28e221]:
              - generic [ref=f28e222]: "03"
              - heading "Waiting lists" [level=3] [ref=f28e223]
              - paragraph [ref=f28e224]: 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.
  - generic [ref=f28e227]:
    - generic [ref=f28e228]:
      - generic [ref=f28e229]: "3"
      - text: schools selected
    - button "Expand comparison panel" [ref=f28e230] [cursor=pointer]:
      - img [ref=f28e231]
  - contentinfo [ref=f28e233]:
    - generic [ref=f28e234]:
      - generic [ref=f28e235]:
        - generic [ref=f28e236]:
          - heading "SchoolCompare" [level=3] [ref=f28e237]
          - paragraph [ref=f28e238]: Compare primary and secondary schools across England.
          - link "contact@schoolcompare.co.uk" [ref=f28e239] [cursor=pointer]:
            - /url: mailto:contact@schoolcompare.co.uk
        - generic [ref=f28e240]:
          - heading "Product" [level=4] [ref=f28e241]
          - list [ref=f28e242]:
            - listitem [ref=f28e243]:
              - link "Search schools" [ref=f28e244] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /
            - listitem [ref=f28e245]:
              - link "Rankings" [ref=f28e246] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /rankings
            - listitem [ref=f28e247]:
              - link "Compare shortlist" [ref=f28e248] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /compare
            - listitem [ref=f28e249]:
              - link "Admissions guide" [ref=f28e250] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: /admissions
        - generic [ref=f28e251]:
          - heading "Resources" [level=4] [ref=f28e252]
          - list [ref=f28e253]:
            - listitem [ref=f28e254]:
              - link "School Performance Tables" [ref=f28e255] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables
            - listitem [ref=f28e256]:
              - link "Ofsted reports" [ref=f28e257] [cursor=pointer]:
                - /url: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
      - paragraph [ref=f28e259]: © 2026 SchoolCompare.co.uk
  - alert [ref=f28e260]