School admission dates in Bristol, City of: September 2027 and 2028
Closing dates, offer days, replies and appeals, each with where it comes from. Apply to the council you live in, even for a school in another area. Get these in your calendar: add your children and kinplace works out which of these dates are theirs.
The year ahead, for September 2027 entry
Today: 20 October 2026 · coral: a deadlineSeptember 2027 entry: every date, with what to do
Starting Reception in September 2027
15JAN 2027Primary applications close Midnight; limited changes to 19 Jan 2027Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one.Council
15JAN 2027Reception: late applications cut-off After midnight 15 Jan 2027 late (requests to treat as on time by 19 Jan 2027)The last day the council takes a late application before offer day, usually only with a good reason.Council
16APR 2027Primary offer day National Offer DayOffers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.Council
30APR 2027Reception: reply to your offer Respond directly to the council by 30 April 2027Accept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.Council
4JUN 2027Reception: appeal deadline On-time appeals where Bristol presents appeals for schools or academies must be submitted by 4 June 2027If you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.Council
31DEC 2027Reception: waiting lists kept until Waiting lists remain until at least 31 Dec 2027Waiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.Council
Moving from infant to junior school (Year 3) in September 2027
15JAN 2027Junior (Year 3) applications closeInfant school children must apply again for a junior school place for Year 3. Apply to your home council by this date.National rule
16APR 2027Junior (Year 3) offer dayOffers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.National rule
30APR 2027Year 3: reply to your offer (about)Accept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.National rule
17MAY 2027Year 3: appeal deadline (earliest)If you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.National rule
31DEC 2027Year 3: waiting lists kept untilWaiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.National rule
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
31OCT 2026Secondary applications close Midnight; limited changes of preference/address allowed to 4 Nov 2026Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one.Council
31OCT 2026Year 7: late applications cut-off Applications after midnight 31 Oct 2026 are late (accepted to 4 Nov only for overseas returners; requests to treat as on time by 13 Nov 2026)The last day the council takes a late application before offer day, usually only with a good reason.Council
1MAR 2027Secondary offer day Offers of a school place sent to parentsOffers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.Council
15MAR 2027Year 7: reply to your offer Parents must respond to the offer by this dateAccept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.Council
26APR 2027Year 7: appeal deadline Deadline for on-time appeals where council presents appeals for school or academy; hearings May-July 2027; other academies/VA may set ownIf you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.Council
31DEC 2027Year 7: waiting lists kept until Waiting lists remain until at least 31 Dec 2027Waiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.Council
September 2028 entry: every date, with what to do
Starting Reception in September 2028
15JAN 2028Primary applications closeApply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one.National rule
18APR 2028Primary offer day Moved to the next working day.Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.National rule
2MAY 2028Reception: reply to your offer (about)Accept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.National rule
17MAY 2028Reception: appeal deadline (earliest)If you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.National rule
31DEC 2028Reception: waiting lists kept untilWaiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.National rule
Moving from infant to junior school (Year 3) in September 2028
15JAN 2028Junior (Year 3) applications closeInfant school children must apply again for a junior school place for Year 3. Apply to your home council by this date.National rule
18APR 2028Junior (Year 3) offer day Moved to the next working day.Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.National rule
2MAY 2028Year 3: reply to your offer (about)Accept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.National rule
17MAY 2028Year 3: appeal deadline (earliest)If you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.National rule
31DEC 2028Year 3: waiting lists kept untilWaiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.National rule
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2028
31OCT 2027Secondary applications closeApply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one.National rule
1MAR 2028Secondary offer dayOffers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered.National rule
15MAR 2028Year 7: reply to your offer (about)Accept or decline the place you were offered, and ask to stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher.National rule
29MAR 2028Year 7: appeal deadline (earliest)If you want to appeal for a school you were refused, lodge the appeal with the school's admission authority by this date.National rule
31DEC 2028Year 7: waiting lists kept untilWaiting lists for this intake are kept until at least this date. Keep in touch with the council if you are on one.National rule
Funded childcare
Funded hours start the term after a child reaches the age: terms start on 1 September, 1 January and 1 April. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from 9 months; every 3- and 4-year-old gets 15 hours; some 2-year-olds get 15 hours. National rules: gov.uk.
Add your children and your council: we work out which dates are yours, put them in your calendar and can email you before each one. Free.Add these dates to your plan
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