School Admissions

Important information for Parents and Carers

Admissions to primary & secondary schools in September 2025 Sefton's Citizen Portal will be open from 1st September 2024 to make an application for: Starting in Reception class (Primary) and transferring from primary Year 6 to (Secondary) Year 7. Go to the 'Starting primary or secondary school in September 2025' page for more information.

Important information for Parents and Carers

Related links

Important information for Parents and Carers

Information for Parents/Carers

This page provides links to further information for parents/carers about the process for applying for a place at a Sefton school.

Starting primary or secondary school in September 2025 (admissions for any other age group please go to the In Year admissions & school transfers page)

School admission applications for children entering primary school (reception class) & secondary school (moving from Year 6 to Year 7) in September 2025 open on 1st September 2024 via the online Citizen Portal.

Please go to the 'Starting School' page for full information, a Parents Guide to Admission, a Sefton Schools Information Guide, and a link to the Citizen Portal. Please also take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions section on the starting school page.

*IMPORTANT: You MUST apply through your home Local Authority for a Reception or Secondary school place regardless of where the school you are applying for is located. As long as you live within Sefton, you apply through Sefton even if your preferred school(s) is outside of Sefton. If you do not live within the Sefton area you must apply through your home Local Authority for a Sefton school.

Important Dates admissions to Primary & Secondary schools for September 2025

Submit your application online via the Citizen Portal by the following national closing dates:

Closing date for applications to start secondary school is 31 October 2024.

Closing date for applications to start primary school is 15 January 2025.

In Year Admission or School Transfers During the School Year

For all other age groups applying for a new school placement during the school year these are known as 'In Year School Admissions'. Please go to the IN YEAR ADMISSIONS & SCHOOL TRANSFERS page for further information.

Private Fostering Arrangements

If a child is living with you and you do not have parental responsibility for the child and are not a close relative, (a close relative is a step parent by marriage, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle) and you have or will be, caring for the child for more than 28 days, can you please indicate this on any admission application form. This type of arrangement is called ‘private fostering’ and the Local Authority has a legal responsibility to recognise, support and monitor any child in their area who is being ‘privately fostered’.

Children Under School Age & Nursery Placements

Sefton Admissions Team processes applications from Reception age upward and is NOT involved with placing children who are under school age into nursery provision. If you need a nursery placement for a child under school age please go to the Sefton Directory where you can search for OFSTED registered nurseries and childminders in your local area.

Alternatively you should contact the school/nursery you are interested in directly for further help about placing your child into a nursery.

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to the universal 15 hours free entitlement, for more information please go to the Sefton Directory

Working parents can see if they are eligible for the extended 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds by accessing the Government website.

For queries about funded places for 2 year olds go to our Free Childcare page.

School Admission Appeals

If your child has been refused a place at a school by the Admission Authority (or via a Fair Access Panel decision), you have the right to submit an appeal against this decision, to an Independent Appeal Panel.

Further details will also be provided to you in the decision letter sent to you when your application has been processed (In Year Admissions) or on the National Offer Days for Primary & Secondary School Admissions. Please go to the Admission Appeals page for further details.

Home to School Transport

For further information on Home to School Transport eligibility, Transport Policy, application forms & the contact details for the Travel Support Team please see the Home to School Transport page.