If your child is currently in Year 6 of a primary or junior school you will shortly need to apply for a year 7 place in secondary school for September 2023. You can name up to three schools on your application.
Before completing your application
Before completing your application, please read the online guidance about applying for a school place at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. The website also contains an A – Z of all Hampshire maintained schools, including details of each school’s admission arrangements, contact details, Ofsted reports etc.
It is important to find out about the schools you are interested in before naming them on your application form.
Secondary schools will hold open days/evenings. It is recommended that you visit the schools you are interested in, including your catchment school. Schools also publish information on their website and in their prospectus, available from the schools on request.
Some schools (foundation, voluntary aided and academies) may require you to complete a supplementary information form (SIF) in addition to the Hampshire application form. Please check the admission policy for each of your preferred schools to find out if a supplementary information form is required.
How to apply
Applications open for Hampshire residents on Monday 12th September 2022. You can apply online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. Non-Hampshire residents must apply using their home Local Authority application.
Children who are being assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan should not apply as above. However those who already have an EHCP need not apply as their placement will be determined by the SEN team as part of their annual review.
The address provided on your application must be your child's permanent address on the application deadline (even if you are planning to move after this date).
The permanent addres is the child's normal place of residence. A business address, workplace address, relative's address of childminder's address will not be accepted.
Where parents are separated and the child lives at more than one address, only one address can be used. This must be the address of the parent with whom the child spends most of their time.
If you do not live in Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Southampton) you must apply through your home local authority.
Using the online system (Education Online Portal)
If you have used the Education Online Portal before, you will be able to log in using the same e-mail address and password. Please check your details are up-to-date in the ‘My Account’ section of the portal before starting your school application.
If you have not used the online portal before, you will need to register by clicking on the ‘Register’ button and following the onscreen instructions. You will be sent an e-mail from the system containing a link to the log in screen. You will then be able to log in using your e-mail address and password.
The deadline for applications
The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 31st October 2022.
It is very important that you submit your application by this date. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered until after all on-time applications have been processed, which means late applicants are less likely to be offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
Parents who want to change their application
Before the deadline (31st October 2023)
Online applicants can log back into the online system and change their application. Parents who have applied on a paper application will need to complete a fresh application or apply online if they wish to make changes. A new application received before the 31st October will supersede the previous one.
Parents who submitted an on-time application can only change their application after the application deadline if there has been a significant change in their circumstances, for example a house move or a sibling has started at the school.
In the case of a house move, the Hampshire website outlines what address evidence is required, depending on the type of move.
Evidence of the change of circumstances will need to be submitted to the Admissions Team by 6 January 2023. Evidence received after this date will not be considered until 9 March, after the notification date (1 March 2023).
National notification date for on-time applicants: 1 March 2023
Online applicants Parents who applied online will be able to log into the online system to view the outcome of their application. They will also receive notification by e-mail on 1 March 2023 advising them of the outcome of their application. The email will invite parents to reply only if they no longer require the place.
Paper applicants Notification letters will be sent by the Admissions Team to all on-time applicants by second class post on 1 March 2023.
Notification dates for late applicants
Late applications received before 1 March 2023 will be considered on 9 March 2023, together with any unsuccessful on-time applicants, for any available places. This includes places declined by successful on-time applicants between 1 and 8 March. Priority will be given in accordance with the school’s published admission criteria. Applicants not offered places will be added to the waiting list when it is established on 10 March 2023.
Late applications received on or after 1 March 2023 will be considered from 10 March 2023 in order of date of receipt. Schools must ensure that all late applications received are forwarded to the Admissions Team without delay
Waiting lists
Waiting lists for oversubscribed schools will be established (and published on SOAP) on 10 March 2023. Lists will include both on-time applicants and late applicants (whose applications were received before 1 March) who were refused a place and not offered a higher preference school. Late applications received on or after 1 March will be considered from 10 March in order of date of receipt.
Waiting lists will be ranked solely in accordance with the school’s admission criteria. Date of application and length of time on the list do not affect a child’s position on the list. Places that become available will be offered in strict waiting list order, by the Admissions Team from 10 March until 31 August 2023