Secondary School Transfer

September 2026 Entry: Applications Now Closed

The national deadline for September 2026 secondary school places has now passed (31 October 2025).

• National Offer Day: If you applied for a place for September 2026, you will have already received your outcome from your home local authority.

• Late Applications: If you have not yet applied for a 2026 place, you must contact the Admissions Team of the borough where you live immediately to submit a late application.

Looking Ahead: September 2027 Entry

If your child is currently in Year 5, the process for transferring to secondary school in September 2027 will begin in the autumn of 2026.

How the Process Works

Regardless of which borough you live in, the application process follows a standardised national timeline. You must apply to the local authority where you pay your Council Tax, even if the schools you are interested in are located in a different borough.

Key Dates for your Diary:

• September 1, 2026: Applications officially open via the eAdmissions portal.

• September – October 2026: Secondary schools will hold Open Days and Evenings. We highly recommend visiting a variety of schools during this time.

• 31 October 2026: The strict national deadline for all 2027 secondary school applications.

Where to Apply

Richmond and Hounslow residents will use the eAdmissions website to submit their preferences.

• You can list up to six schools in order of preference.

• You should list schools in the order you truly want them; the system is designed to offer you the highest-ranked school for which your child meets the admission criteria.

Important: Supplementary Information Forms (SIF) Many faith-based schools, foundation schools, and academies require a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). This is an additional form sent directly to the school (not the council) to provide evidence for their specific admissions criteria (e.g., religious practice or staff priority).

Comprehensive information about secondary school transfer can be found on the Achieving for Children website