Over 6,000 pupils offered secondary school place

On Monday, 2 March, parents of pupils going to secondary school in September 2026 will receive a place from Gloucestershire County Council. All parents in the county will be offered one school place for their child on the same day.

Parents will have until 16 March to accept their school place or request an alternative school. The 99 per cent of parents and carers who applied online will receive an email confirming their school place after 9am on Monday, 2 March and will be able to accept their place online.

As well as the 83 per cent being offered their first preference school, 93 per cent are being offered one of their preferences.

Cllr Linda Cohen, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Going on to secondary school is a big step for our young people, and I wish them well for their next stage of their journey. I’m delighted that we have been able to offer so many pupils a school of their choice for September.”

Those parents or carers who did not apply online will receive a letter on Monday, 2 March, including the place on offer and the reasons why. This letter will be specific to each pupil and will contain an explanation for the decision made.

Parents are encouraged to accept their place online or return their reply forms as soon as possible. As we know from previous years, more places are likely to become available over the next few months as parents change their preferences.

If parents ask for their child's school place to be reconsidered, they will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred schools. If places then become available, they will be offered a place in line with the school’s admission policy.

Parents unhappy with their initial offer are encouraged to keep their place as this will ensure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The county council will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration after 6 April, and parents will have until 10 April to reply. Parents who are still not satisfied with their given school will be advised of the appeals procedure.

The admission criteria and more information about waiting lists for every school is also available at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.