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Admission to Reception at Primary School/Year 3 Junior School & Lower to Middle school places for September 2027

Key dates

From November 2026

Letters sent out to Gloucestershire residents making them aware the application window is open. You do not need the letter to make the application

From 2 November 2026 to Midnight 15 January 2027 Application Window.
Closing date for school applications is Midnight on 15 January 2027
16 April 2027 Allocation Day
23 April 2027

Closing date to return reply form accepting the School/Academy place or requesting to be put on waiting list/s
By 19 May 2027 Outcome of Waiting List Requests
Midnight 26 May 2027 Closing date for return of reply forms
Late June 2027 to July 2027 Appeals

The guidance booklet and Information Booklet 2027/2028 will be available on this page from September 2026

For Information and guidance regarding Lower to Middle School transfer please visit the relevant Authorities website.

Applying for a school place during the school year, including all September 2026 entries (Reception and Junior)

To apply for a school place or your child needs to move school for other reasons you need to apply directly to the school.  For further information can be found on  our in-year admissions page

In Gloucestershire children can start primary/infant school/academy, if their parents wish, in the September of the school year in which they become five. For children due to start in September 2027 the child's date of birth falls between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. The school year starts on 1 September.

We have three types of primary school:

  • Infant for pupils aged 4 to 7 in 3 year groups - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
  • Junior for pupils aged 7 to 11 in 4 year groups - Years 3,4,5 and 6
  • Primary for pupils aged 4 to 11 in 7 year groups from Reception through to Year 6.

In Gloucestershire children can start primary/infant school/academy, if their parents wish, in the September of the school year in which they become five. For children due to start in September 2027 the child's date of birth falls between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. The school year starts on 1 September.

We have three types of primary school:

  • Infant for pupils aged 4 to 7 in 3 year groups - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
  • Junior for pupils aged 7 to 11 in 4 year groups - Years 3,4,5 and 6
  • Primary for pupils aged 4 to 11 in 7 year groups from Reception through to Year 6.

In certain circumstances your child may get help with the cost of transport to school. We need to know how many students need transport several months before they start school in September. You therefore need to apply as soon as you know which school your child will be going to and ensure the transport application is submitted no later later 31 May 2027, to allow time to assess eligibility and arrange transport for September 2026.

You can find out how to apply on our school transport pages.

In certain circumstances your child may get help with the cost of transport to school. We need to know how many students need transport several months before they start school in September. You therefore need to apply as soon as you know which school your child will be going to and ensure the transport application is submitted no later later 31 May 2027, to allow time to assess eligibility and arrange transport for September 2026.

You can find out how to apply on our school transport pages.

Did you know that you must apply to the county council for a primary school place, even if you have put your name down at a school or your child has an older sibling at that school?

Every year, there are parents who do not put in an application form for their child as they believe they do not need to do so, having put their child's name down at their preferred school.

Others don't apply as they think that their child will be automatically admitted to the school their older brother and sister attends or to the school that the child's nursery or pre-school is linked to.

An application must be made to the county council for every child starting school in September 2027.

Parents can apply online 24 hours a day, seven days a week from November until midnight on 15 January or by completing a paper form which can be downloaded from the same site or requested from the county council's Co-ordinated Admissions on 01452 425407.

Full information on the admissions process and information about individual schools is available in School Admission Guidance and Infant, Primary and Junior booklet available online. It is important for parents to read this information before applying for a school place.

Parents are encouraged to list five preferred schools on their form as school places cannot be guaranteed - failing to include second, third, fourth and fifth preferences could lead to children being allocated school places parents would not have listed. Parents must apply online or return their form by 15 January 2027.

Parents will find out which school they have been allocated on 16 April and will need to return the reply form by 23 April. After 14 May, if parents have requested to go on a waiting list, requested an alternative placement, or have made a late application, they will receive the result of this stage.

Did you know that you must apply to the county council for a primary school place, even if you have put your name down at a school or your child has an older sibling at that school?

Every year, there are parents who do not put in an application form for their child as they believe they do not need to do so, having put their child's name down at their preferred school.

Others don't apply as they think that their child will be automatically admitted to the school their older brother and sister attends or to the school that the child's nursery or pre-school is linked to.

An application must be made to the county council for every child starting school in September 2027.

Parents can apply online 24 hours a day, seven days a week from November until midnight on 15 January or by completing a paper form which can be downloaded from the same site or requested from the county council's Co-ordinated Admissions on 01452 425407.

Full information on the admissions process and information about individual schools is available in School Admission Guidance and Infant, Primary and Junior booklet available online. It is important for parents to read this information before applying for a school place.

Parents are encouraged to list five preferred schools on their form as school places cannot be guaranteed - failing to include second, third, fourth and fifth preferences could lead to children being allocated school places parents would not have listed. Parents must apply online or return their form by 15 January 2027.

Parents will find out which school they have been allocated on 16 April and will need to return the reply form by 23 April. After 14 May, if parents have requested to go on a waiting list, requested an alternative placement, or have made a late application, they will receive the result of this stage.

If you only put one preference, you will be allocated that school

No. You could disadvantage yourself by not using all your preferences. If you only name one, you will only be considered for that school and if you don't get in, you could be allocated a school far away.

If you name the same school in all five preferences, you are considered five times for that school

No, this is the same as only naming one school.

Schools will only look at those children who have named them as first preference

No, schools do not know in which order they have been named. An equal ranking system is used to allocate places.

A child who has been baptised is guaranteed a place at a faith school

No, if the school receives more applications than places available the places will be offered in line with over subscription criteria of the school. These can viewed in the Infant, Primary and Junior Booklet .

If I think my preferred school will be oversubscribed, there is no point applying

You should list your preferences in your preferred order (the order you which you want them considered) as demand for places changes every year.

I am guaranteed a place at my local school even if I don't name it as a preference

No, you must name your local school if you want to be considered for a place there. If we cannot offer any of your preferences and you have not applied for your local school, it is unlikely you will be offered a place there.

Attendance at pre-school

Attendance at any pre-school group does not give a child a higher priority for admission to a particular school. Places are offered in line with the over subscription criteria of the school

Catchment areas

Generally, there are no catchment areas for primary schools. However, for Voluntary Aided, Academy or Foundation schools, you should check their individual admissions criteria in the Infant, Primary and Junior Schools Information booklet

The earlier I apply, the greater chance I have of getting my first preference

No, all applications are treated equally, regardless of when they are received as long as they are received by 15 January 2027.

If you only put one preference, you will be allocated that school

No. You could disadvantage yourself by not using all your preferences. If you only name one, you will only be considered for that school and if you don't get in, you could be allocated a school far away.

If you name the same school in all five preferences, you are considered five times for that school

No, this is the same as only naming one school.

Schools will only look at those children who have named them as first preference

No, schools do not know in which order they have been named. An equal ranking system is used to allocate places.

A child who has been baptised is guaranteed a place at a faith school

No, if the school receives more applications than places available the places will be offered in line with over subscription criteria of the school. These can viewed in the Infant, Primary and Junior Booklet .

If I think my preferred school will be oversubscribed, there is no point applying

You should list your preferences in your preferred order (the order you which you want them considered) as demand for places changes every year.

I am guaranteed a place at my local school even if I don't name it as a preference

No, you must name your local school if you want to be considered for a place there. If we cannot offer any of your preferences and you have not applied for your local school, it is unlikely you will be offered a place there.

Attendance at pre-school

Attendance at any pre-school group does not give a child a higher priority for admission to a particular school. Places are offered in line with the over subscription criteria of the school

Catchment areas

Generally, there are no catchment areas for primary schools. However, for Voluntary Aided, Academy or Foundation schools, you should check their individual admissions criteria in the Infant, Primary and Junior Schools Information booklet

The earlier I apply, the greater chance I have of getting my first preference

No, all applications are treated equally, regardless of when they are received as long as they are received by 15 January 2027.

Contact us

If you have not managed to find an answer to your question regarding Reception/Junior 2027 in the information above or in the booklets, contact us on:

01452 425407 or school.admissions@gloucestershire.gov.uk

However, if your query is not related to school admission for Reception/Junior 2027 please contact the In Year Admissions Team on 01452 426015 or inyear.admissions@gloucestershire.gov.uk