Dorset Co-ordinated Admission Scheme 2026 to 2027
| Admissions area | Secondary | Primary |
|---|---|---|
| Closing date - for applications (EHCP and Children in Care) (Applicants applying on aptitude/ability will be advised of the outcome of the testing (not guarantee of a placement) in good time to complete a preference application by the closing date.) | 31 October 2025 | 15 January 2026 |
| Final EHCP allocations confirmed to School Admissions | 12 January 2026 | 13 February 2026 |
| Latest Date for Children in Care applications | 31 January 2026 | 15 March 2026 |
| Application Exchange - Dorset LA exchanges applications with other LAs | 17 November 2025 | 2 February 2026 |
| Verifying Criteria & Ranking Deadline - for Admission Authorities to complete the process of verifying and confirming the criteria for their applications, ranking those applications and returning them to the Local Authority | 11 January 2026 | 6 March 2026 |
| First Offer Exchange - First exchange of offers between LAs | 26 January 2026 | 16 March 2026 |
| Final Offer Exchange - Final exchange of offers between LAs | 9 February 2026 | 30 March 2026 |
| Final Allocation Notification - Dorset LA to inform all schools of final allocations | 23 February 2026 | 7 April 2026 |
| Notification Day - Dorset LA sends notification to home applicants (National Offer Day or the next working day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday) | 2 March 2026 | 16 Aril 2026 |
| Parents respond to the offer | 15 March 2026 | 1 May 2026 |
Dorset Council will have a single late round inline with all neighbouring authorities.
The single late round for each cycle will close the day prior to the National Offer Day of that cycle.
All applications after the National Offer day will no longer be batch co-ordinated and will be dealt with as In-Year Transfers and will be dealt with as they are received.
| Round | Late closing date | Late offer date | Late response date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Late | 3 March 2026 | 30 March 2026 | 17 April 2026 |
| Primary Late | 15 April 2026 | 14 May 2026 | 29 May 2026 |
Secondary Applications received after 2nd February and Primary Applications after the 15th April will be processed as quickly as possible as they are received and as In-Year Transfers.
Please note applications received within the last few weeks of term and during the summer holidays may not be processed until the schools return from their summer break.