Applying for a place - September 2026

 

Applications are processed by the School Admissions Team within Sunderland City Council. 

The School Admissions Team can provide advice and guidance to parents / carers about applying for school places when children are due to start a school.

Further information and guidance can be found on the Sunderland City Council website. 

 

If your child's date of birth falls between 01/09/2021 and 31/08/2022, you will need to apply for a primary school for September 2026.

 

  • Application period - 29 September 2025 until 15 January 2026
  • If your application is received after 15 January 2026, it will reduce your chance of being offered your preferred school
  • Apply online and you will receive an email confirmation, once your application has been received
  • National Offer Day - 16 April 2026
  • If you apply online, you will receive an email confirmation about your child's school place sooner than if you apply by paper application form

Click here to apply for a place

The link above will take you to the City of Sunderland website.

 

Request to defer entry to Reception - summer born children

Parents/carers of children born in the summer term, i.e. between 1 April until 31 August, may request that they are admitted outside of their normal age group and start Reception class a year later. 

Parents/carers must submit their request to defer entry through their application which must be submitted no later than 15 January 2026.  However, requests received after this date but before the National Offer Day (16 April 2026) may still be considered. 

Any request received after 16 April 2026 will not be considered and it will not be possible to defer entry to school after this date. 

More information is available in the Request to defer entry to Reception - summer born children document on Sunderland City Council's website.

   

Applying for a school transfer

If you would like to transfer your child to a school in Sunderland (including Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring & Washington), you must complete a School Transfer Application form.  

For further information, and to obtain a copy of a School Transfer Application Form visit the Sunderland City Council website. 

To apply to transfer to a school in another area, the parent/carer must contact the Council where the desired school is located for advice about their application process. 

Appeals

If it has not been possible to offer a place at your preferred school(s) the decision will be confirmed in writing. You have the right to appeal to an independent panel.

  

You must request the appeal form from the School Admissions Team at Sunderland City Council.

 

For September 2026 admissions, your appeal form should be completed and returned by no later than 13 May 2026 (primary). If it is received after these dates, it may be heard after the other appeals.

The decision of the panel is final and binding on all parties.