Families of children in Year 6 – it is now time to start applying for a secondary school place. You can make your application for a secondary school place from 12th September in the year when your child is in Year 6. The national application deadline is 31st October.
12th September 2025 – Applications open
31st October 2025 – Deadline for applications
1st March 2026 (or the next working day) – National Offer Day
13th April 2026 – Appeal forms to be returned
April – June 2026 – Admission appeals heard
Secondary School Open Evenings
Prospective pupils can attend school engagement activities in September and October each year. Open Evenings are usually held each autumn for prospective pupils, parents and carers to attend and view schools. Each school holds their event on a different evening and below are the dates that we have been notified of; we advise that you check school websites for confirmation of the Open Evening arrangements.
School open evening dates 2025:
- Tuesday 23 September 2025 – Vale of York Academy
- Wednesday 24 September 2025 – All Saints RC School
- Thursday 25 September 2025 – York High School
- Tuesday 30 September 2025 – Manor CE Academy
- Wednesday 1 October 2025 – The Joseph Rowntree School
- Thursday 2 October 2025 – Archbishop Holgate’s School
- Tuesday 7 October 2025 – Millthorpe School
- Wednesday 8 October 2025 – Fulford School
- Thursday 9 October 2025 – Huntington School
Guide for Parents/School Catchment Areas
Click to download from the CYC website
Please read the Guide for Parents before applying for a school place, it contains key information on school admissions for parents/carers, and a new guide is issued each year in September. You can also find the Guide to School Catchment Areas online.
How to Apply
- You can apply online at york.gov.uk/admissions from 12 September 2025; with an online application you will receive an email confirming submission of your application.
- Please remember to submit your application by the closing date.
- If you have difficulty applying online, you can contact the admissions team on 01904 551554 and they can talk you through how to apply. If you can’t apply online you can request a paper Secondary Application Form.
- You need to ensure that you have applied, either online (and submitted your application), or
by returning a Secondary Application Form by the deadline of 31 October 2025. - Late applications can be made after 31st October, though these may be looked at after other applications.
Applicants will be advised of their allocated school from National Offer Day.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE
Supplementary Information Forms
If you are applying for schools outside of the City of York area or faith schools such as your local Church of England or Roman Catholic Primary or Secondary school, you may also need to provide additional information such as proof of baptism, or fill in a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which can be found on the CYC website; if the Supplementary Information Form is not listed there please contact the school directly.
You should check with the school directly if a SIF is required, but you must always apply to your home Local Authority.
Do you live outside the City of York area?
When applying to start secondary school, your application must be made to the local authority in which you live, that you currently pay your council tax to, even if your school of preference is not in that area.