When and how to apply
If your child is in Year 6, it’s time to apply for their secondary school place. Applications opened on 1 September 2025 and must be submitted by 31 October 2025. You can apply online our website.
You can list up to four school preferences. It’s really important to consider using all four – even if you’re confident about your first preference. This gives your child the best chance of being offered a place at a school you prefer.
While it’s not compulsory, listing fewer than four schools may increase the chance of your child being offered a place at a school further away from home, especially if local schools fill up with children whose families used all their preferences.
If only one preference is listed, and that school is oversubscribed or unable to offer a place, your child may be allocated a school that wasn’t chosen at all, potentially far from home or not aligned with your child’s needs. By listing four preferences in order, parents give the admissions team more options to find the best possible match, helping to avoid disappointment and unnecessary stress. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in securing a positive start to secondary education.
Choosing just one school doesn’t guarantee a place or give your child priority over others. Each school will look at your child’s application and decide who to offer places to based on their published admission rules – known as oversubscription criteria – which they use when there are more applicants than places.
“I encourage parents to use all four preferences and to explore the fantastic range of schools we have across Kent.”
Beverley Fordham, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, knows how important this time is for families.
She said: “As a parent myself, I understand that applying for a secondary school can feel like a big step. Our aim is to make the process as clear and supportive as possible. I encourage parents to use all four preferences and to explore the fantastic range of schools we have across Kent.
“Whether your child is applying to a selective school, a non-selective school, or a specialist setting, what matters most is that they feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn. We’re here to help families make informed decisions and to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Contact us
If you have any questions about the process, email the admissions team on kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 41 21 21.
What happens next?
You’ll find out which school your child has been offered a place at on 3 March 2026. This year, most children – more than 96% - got one of their preferred schools, and more than 80% get their first preference.
If you don’t get the school you hoped for, don’t panic, there is a waiting list system and an appeals process.
We know how important the Secondary School process is, and sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, your child may not be offered a place at one of your preferred schools. If this happens, KCC will automatically enrol you on waiting lists for your preferred schools and you do have the right to appeal the decision. You can appeal for any school you listed on your application, no matter where you ranked it.
If you considering appealing for a Kent school, you should submit your appeal by Monday 30 March 2026. This allows the appeal organisers to group all appeals for the same school together, so they can be heard at the same time by the same panel -something recommended by the School Admission Appeals Code. You don’t need to wait for the outcome of another appeal or offer before submitting. You can always withdraw your appeal later if you change your mind. Read how to appeal.
What is KCC’s role in all this?
KCC manages the application process for all primary, junior, and secondary schools in Kent, but only has a very limited role in deciding what school place each child is offered. When there are more applications than places, each school uses its own published admission rules (admission policy or oversubscription criteria) to decide who gets priority. KCC can only offer the number of spaces that each school tells us they have available.
KCC sets admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools only. Academies, Foundation schools, and Voluntary-Aided schools set their own admissions criteria.
Find the admissions arrangements of schools you are interested in
KCC’s job is to:
- co-ordinate the Kent Test for grammar school entry
- manage the application and offer process for primary, junior and secondary school entry
- present appeals on behalf of schools who are signed up to our service
- help families who didn't get a preferred school
- assess home to school transport eligibility.
What happens if you don’t get one of your preferences?
We understand how important your school preferences are, and every effort is made to match your child with one of the schools you've chosen. If none of your preferred schools are able to offer a place, this is because other children were more eligible under the admissions criteria. KCC will make sure your child is still offered a school place. In these cases, we will allocate a school that still has spaces available and will try to make this the nearest one to your home.
However, this school may be some distance away, as places are only offered where availability remains after all other applications have been considered. Unfortunately, this allocation won’t be able to take into account individual circumstances or preferences, such as the type of school, size, faith-based provision, childcare options, or travel arrangements. That’s why using all four preferences on your application is so important. It gives your child the best chance of being placed in a school that suits your family’s needs.
Tips for choosing a school
Open days and school visits are a great way to get a feel for a school. When you visit, here are some questions you might want to ask:
- What's the school's approach to behaviour and wellbeing?
- What subjects and qualifications are offered?
- How does the school support children with additional needs?
- What clubs and activities are available?
- What are the school's values and ethos?
- What do students go on to do after year 11?
And don’t forget to think about practicalities like how your child will get to and from school each day. If you’re likely to need help with transport, please consider this carefully before submitting your application. In most cases, if a school is outside your local area, it will be your responsibility to make sure your child can travel there.
Getting to school
Some children are eligible for home-to-school transport funded by Council Tax, but there are rules set in national legislation.
- Transport is only available to the nearest school to your home with a space
- If your child is under eight and lives more than two miles from their nearest suitable school, they may qualify
- If they’re over eight, the distance increases to three miles
- Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), mobility issues, or from low-income families may also be eligible
If your child isn’t eligible, there are other options like the Kent Travel Saver and the Vacant Seat Payment Scheme, which can help reduce travel costs.
It’s important to know that the rules for getting help with home-to-school transport are separate from the school’s admission criteria. This means that even if your child is offered a place at a school, it doesn’t automatically mean they’ll be eligible for transport assistance.
Planning ahead can make a big difference, and we’re here to help if you have questions about school transport or eligibility.
Children with SEND
Most children with SEND can thrive in mainstream schools.
Every education setting has an obligation to support children to fulfil their potential and to make sure that they're included at every opportunity. Schools must put arrangements in place to support your child's individual needs.
For children who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, your school preferences will be discussed during your annual review meeting (phase transfer). You will also be contacted directly by the SEN team, who will explain how you can name your preferred school.
If your child is currently being assessed for an EHC plan but it has not been finalised, you must apply for a school place using the standard admissions process. This will ensure they have a school place if the EHC plan is not agreed.
Read further guidance about secondary school places.
You can also find detailed guidance in the Kent Secondary Admissions Booklet.
