When to apply
If your child is due to start school for the first time or, due to start junior, middle, secondary or upper in September 2025 you can apply from the 1 September 2024.
The closing date for on-time applications was:
- 31 October 2024 for children who were due to start secondary or upper school
- 15 January 2025 for children starting school for the first time or due to start junior or middle school
If you applied after the relevant closing date, your application will be classed as late.
View your child's school offer
If you applied online, you will be able to view your child's offer by logging into your account on:
- 3 March 2025 for children due to start secondary or upper school
- 16 April 2025 for children starting school for the first time or due to start junior or middle school
If you applied online or gave us an email address on your paper application, we'll also send your school place outcome by email.
We'll send you a separate email with a link for you to view and download your offer letter. This is also where we tell you about your transport entitlement.
If you did not provided an email address on your application, we will send your offer letter in the post.
How we've allocated school places
We provide information on how school places have been allocated for schools which are full and oversubscribed:
For September 2025
On Time Secondary and Upper school allocations - 3 March 2025
Late Secondary and Upper school allocations - 2 April 2025
- Budmouth Academy
- Ferndown Upper School
- Lytchett Minster School
- The Gryphon School
- The Swanage School
- The Thomas Hardye School
On time middle school allocations - 16 April 2025
On time primary and first school allocations - 16 April 2025
- All Saints Primary School
- Blandford St Mary Primary School
- Burton Bradstock Primary School
- Colehill First School
- Corfe Castle Primary School
- Durweston Primary School
- Hayeswood First School
- Hillside First School
- Lytchett Matravers Primary School
- Parley First School
- Pimperne Primary School
- Rushcombe First School
- Salway Ash Primary School
- Sherborne Abbey Primary School
- Shillingstone Primary School
- Southill Primary School
- St Ives Primary School
- St James' First School, Gaunts Common
- St John's Primary School, Weymouth
- St Mary the Virgin Primary School
- St Mary's Primary School, Bridport
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester
- Symondsbury Primary School
- The Abbey Primary School, Shaftesbury
- The Prince of Wales School
- Thorner's Primary School
- Thornford Primary School
- Trent Young's Primary School
- Trinity First School
- Wimborne First School
Late middle school allocations
Late middle school allocations will appear here on 14 May 2025.
Late primary and first school allocations
Late primary and first school allocations will appear here on 14 May 2025.
Find school allocation information from previous years by area
School Admissions Team
Email: admissions@dorsetcouncil.gov.ukTel: 01305 221060
Full contact details