Parents of year six pupils living in Derbyshire can now apply for their child’s secondary school place for September 2027

Parents of year six pupils living in Derbyshire can now apply for their child’s secondary school place for September 2027.

Around 9,500 year six primary school children – who were born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 – have been sent information about the application process.

The deadline to submit applications is midnight on Saturday 31st October 2026.

Applying online is the most efficient method and also allows our school admissions team to most effectively receive and gather the information it requires to allocate places at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions

Anyone who applies online will receive an email to assure them their application has been received.

When completing the application form parents are asked to list, in order of preference, the three schools they would most like their child to attend and should consider including their child’s ‘normal area’ school as one of their preferences.

Parents who don’t include their child’s normal area school could – if that school then becomes full – find themselves being offered a place at a school further away and be liable for any costs associated with home to school transport.

Although parents have a legal right to express preferences they have no automatic right to a place at any particular school.

For parents whose children have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) the child’s school place will be arranged by the local authority’s SEND Assessment Service (SENDAS). For queries parents should speak to their SENDCO in school or visit the Derbyshire Local Offer at www.localoffer.derbyshire.gov.uk

Cabinet Member for SEND and Education Councillor Simon Mabbott said: “Although the new school term has just begun, it’s time for parents with children in year six to apply for their child’s secondary school place for September 2027.

“It’s really quick and easy to apply – especially if parents do it online and we have a dedicated team on hand to help parents with the application process.

“Picking the right school is a big decision so we’re asking parents to take their time to explore all of their options and send in their application before the deadline.”

Applications submitted to the council after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents applied on time.

Parents who fail to meet the deadline may find that the school they want their child to go to is full.

Any parents who are a refused a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel.

Parents unable to make an application online can call the admissions and transport team on 01629 537479.