Being late is the one you cannot undo
Late forms are looked at after every on-time one
What this is
The deadline is 31 October for secondary and 15 January for primary. A late form is not thrown out, but it goes to the back. Every on-time form is dealt with first, and in a busy area the popular schools are full by then.
What to do
- Put the deadline in your phone now, with an alarm a week before.
- Send the form a few days early. Council websites fall over on deadline day.
- Save the confirmation email. That is your proof.
- If you are already past it, send it today anyway. Later is worse than late.
How you know it worked
You have a confirmation email with a date on it, saved somewhere you can find it.
Easy to get wrong
- Leaving it to the last evening and hitting a website that is overloaded.
- Assuming a few days late will not matter. It is the single most damaging mistake on this list.
If that does not work
If you missed it for a good reason, tell the council in writing. Some accept late forms in the main round if the reason is strong.
Last updated 7 October 2026. Written against the School Admissions Code 2021. Your council sets its own rules and dates, and its page is always the final word. This is information, not legal advice.