Admissions
Applying for a Place
When Children Can Start Primary School
Children can start reception year at a primary school from the September after their fourth birthday. However, by law children don’t have to start school until the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.
Earlier starts will be considered in very exceptional cases or circumstances. Parents must provide evidence of an exceptional or substantial need for this to happen.
Blackpool Primary School Admissions 2027
| Tuesday 1 September 2026 | Parents can access the online application or obtain an application pack from Blackpool primary schools or the schools admissions team |
| By Friday 15 January 2027 | Online applications must be submitted before midnight. Paper applications must be returned to the school admissions team by this date. Do not wait until the final day to submit your application in case of computer failure or a delay in postal services. |
| On Friday 16 April 2026 | If you have applied online, you will receive an email confirming the allocated school. The online system will go live on the morning of Friday 16 April 2026. If you have applied on a paper application, the letter will be posted on Wednesday 14th April 2026. The letter may arrive at various times depending on the postal service in your area. If you are not satisfied with the allocated school, you may request an appeal form from the school admissions team, or from the school direct if you are appealing for a voluntary aided school. |
Blackpool Primary School Appeals 2027
| By the end of May 2027 | Appeals should be returned in order to be heard in the first round of appeals. Later appeals can be submitted but will not be heard until later in the year |
| June/July 2027 | First appeals heard by Independent Appeal Panels. |
| September 2027 | Pupils start primary school. |
Blackpool Secondary School Appeals 2027
| On Monday 1 March 2027 |
If you have applied online, you will receive an email confirming the allocated school. The online system will go live on the Monday 1 March 2027. If you have applied on a paper application, you will receive a letter in the post - this will be posted on Friday 26 February 2027. The letter may arrive at various times depending on the postal service in your area. If you are not satisfied with the allocated school, you may request an appeal form from the school admissions team, or from the school direct if you are appealing for a voluntary aided school. You will need to contact an academy to establish their appeal arrangements. |
| By mid April 2027 | Appeal forms should be returned in order to be heard in the first round of appeals. Later appeals can be submitted but will not be heard until later in the year. |
| June 2027 | First appeals heard by the independent appeal panels. |
| September 2027 | Pupils start secondary school. |
Usual Starting Dates
| Child born between | Starts primary school | Apply between |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2022 – 31 August 2023 | September 2027 | September 2026 – January 2027 |
| 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024 | September 2028 | September 2027 – January 2028 |
Important Information
Children who attend a nursery that is attached to a school or academy do not automatically move into reception.
Attendance at a nursery is not taken into consideration when places in the reception classes are being allocating.
You can find the criteria that is used for allocating places in reception classes in our Admissions Policy.
If you require a paper copy of the Admission Policy; please contact the school office on 01253 855215 and we shall provide this free of charge.
.png)