If your child is due to start primary, junior or secondary education and you live in Derbyshire you should apply to us even if the school you want is located in the area of another council.

If you live outside Derbyshire you should apply through your home council even if you want to apply for a place at a Derbyshire school.

We have parents' guide to secondary admissions and parents' guide to primary admissions to help you.

Apply for a secondary school place

If your child was born between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2012 and is in their last year of primary school you should apply for their secondary school place by 31 October 2022.

Please note that all applications made on time receive equal consideration. They will start school in September 2023.

If your child attends a school outside of Derbyshire which operates a different pattern of education and they are due to transfer to secondary school phase in September 2023, you should also make an application by 31 October 2022 and this information will also apply to you.

The application process is quick and easy and you can also find information about how to choose a school and apply for a place in our parents' guide to secondary admissions.

You'll get your offer on 1 March 2023 and if you're unhappy with the decision you can make an appeal. You can do this online and more information can be found on the secondary appeals web page.

Applying for primary, infant and junior school places

If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 they will be eligible to start school in September 2023. You should apply for their infant or primary school place by 15 January 2023. You will be able to make your application here from 9am on 7 November 2022.

If your child was born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 and is in their last year at infant school you should apply for their junior place by 15 January 2023. You will be able to make your application here from 9am on 7 November 2022.

The application process is quick and easy and you can also find information about how to choose a school and apply for a place in our guide for parents at that time.

You'll get your offer on 17 April 2023 and if you're unhappy with the decision you can make an appeal. You can do this online and more information can be found on the primary appeals web page.

Changing school at other times

You may want to apply for your child to change schools other than when they're due to start primary, junior or secondary education. This could be because of a change of address.

If you want to apply for a place at a school in Derbyshire, view the guidance about changing schools. We cannot accept applications earlier than one term before the place is required.

If you want to apply for a place at a school in another council area you should contact the council where the school is located in the first instance. If you don't live in Derbyshire you can find your local council.

School Admission Appeals

If you couldn't get a place for your child in the school you wanted you can appeal against the decision.

Primary and Junior Appeals

If your appeal is for a child starting school for the first time during the 2022 to 2023 academic year or transferring from year 2 at an infant school to junior provision in September 2022, you can appeal if your application is unsuccessful.

If you are informed of a decision for reception 2022 to 2023 or junior school for September 2022 after 19 April 2022 or it relates to an in-year admission, you should submit your appeal within 20 school days of being told that your application was unsuccessful.

See guidance for making your primary, infant and junior school admissions appeal.

Appeal primary, infant and junior school admissions 

Secondary Appeals

If your appeal is for a child transferring to secondary school in September and you received your decision on 1 March 2022, you can appeal if your application was unsuccessful.

If you received your decision relating to a child transferring to secondary school in September after 1 March 2022 or your appeal relates to an in-year admission you should submit your appeal within 20 school days of being told that your application was unsuccessful.

See: guidance for making your secondary school admissions appeal.

Appeal secondary school admissions