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Applications and offers

Secondary school applications (the CAF) explained

The short answer

In England you apply for all state secondary schools, including grammar schools, on one application to your home council, often called the common application form or CAF. The national deadline is 31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source in Year 6, and offers come on National Offer Day: 1 March (or the next working day if 1 March is a weekend or bank holiday)National Offer DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: If either date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.View the official source. You can name schools in other council areas too, and you should list them in your real order of preference.

What to do next

  1. Step 1: Apply to your home council

    Use one Common Application Form () for every state school, including schools in other areas.

  2. Step 2: Send it by the deadline

    By31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source

    Name your schools in your real order of preference.

    How to order your schools

  3. Step 3: Check whether any school needs an extra form

    A Supplementary Information Form () goes to the school, not the council, and has its own deadline.

  4. Step 4: Look out for your offer

    On1 March (or the next working day if 1 March is a weekend or bank holiday)National Offer DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: If either date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.View the official source

    Offers come on .

Who do you apply to?

The rule is simple: you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaWho you apply throughChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You apply through your local council even if you’re applying for schools in another council area or you’ve just moved to England.View the official source. The School Admissions Code adds that a parent can apply for any state-funded school in any areaYou can apply to schools in any council areaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: a parent can apply for a place for their child at any state-funded school in any area.View the official source. So if you live in one council area and want a grammar school in another, you still use your own council's application.

This is separate from registering for the 11+ test, which usually happens months earlier and directly with the school, consortium or test area. Registering for the test is not an application for a place, and applying for a place does not register your child for a test.

For independent schools, the rule is different: apply to private (independent) schools directlyApplying to private schoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: If you’re looking for a place at a private school (also called ‘independent schools’), contact the school directly.View the official source.

When is the deadline?

Applications usually open on 1 SeptemberSchool place applications openChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Applications usually open on 1 September.View the official source and the national deadline is 31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source. Your council sets the exact closing time, and in some years a council may set a slightly different date or time. For example, for 2027 entry, Buckinghamshire residents must apply by 31 October 2026 (11:59pm for Buckinghamshire residents)Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: School place applications close (CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: If you live in Buckinghamshire, you can apply for your child’s secondary school place from 10am on 7 September 2026 until 11:59pm on 31 October 2026.View the official source. Always check your own council's website.

Applying late usually means your application is considered only after all the on-time ones. The Code defines a late application as an application made after the deadline, too late for National Offer DayWhat counts as a late applicationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: “Late applications” are applications for entry in a relevant age group which are submitted before the first day of the first term in the admission year but have not been made in time to enable the local authority to offer a place on National Offer Day.View the official source. See late applications and late tests.

How many schools can you list?

Parents can express a preference for at least threeSchools you can name on the application (at least)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Parents are able to express a preference for at least three schools.View the official source schools. Many councils allow more; your council's form will say. You list them in order of preference.

Two rules make the order safe to get right:

  • schools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank themNo extra priority for naming a school firstChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: give extra priority to children whose parents rank preferred schools in a particular order, including ‘first preference first’ arrangements;View the official source.
  • Listing only one school does not increase your chances of a place thereNaming only one school gives no advantageChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Listing only one school will not increase your chances of getting a place there.View the official source.

We explain how to think about the order in how to rank your school preferences.

Do some schools need extra forms?

Sometimes. Some schools ask for a supplementary information form, for example to check faith, staff or pupil premium priority. These go to the school, not the council, and have their own deadlines. Missing one can mean a priority isn't applied. Check each school's admission policy. See supplementary information forms.

What happens on National Offer Day?

Councils send offers on 1 March (or the next working day if 1 March is a weekend or bank holiday)National Offer DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: If either date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.View the official source. Under the Code, the council makes only one offer per childOne offer for each childChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: only one offer per child is made by the local authority;View the official source: the highest preference school that can offer your child a place. If none of your schools can, the council must offer a place at another school, usually the nearest school with places leftIf none of your schools can offer a placeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: The local council must provide a place at another school, if your child is not offered a place at any of the schools you’ve applied for. This is usually your nearest school with places still available.View the official source.

You must accept the offer by the deadline in the letter. Accepting does not stop you joining waiting lists for schools you preferred, or appealing. See National Offer Day.

What if you are moving house or abroad?

contact the council for the area where you will live; you may need proof of your new addressApplying from another countryChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: If you’re applying from another country, contact the local council in the area where you’re going to live.View the official source. Councils check addresses carefully and each has rules about when a move counts. See moving house for a grammar school.

Sources

Facts on this page come from GOV.UK (apply for a secondary school place; school admissions: how to apply) and the School Admissions Code 2021, archived on 9 October 2026, and our verified Buckinghamshire records.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any council or school. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
School place applications close (common application form, CAF)31 OctoberSource: GOV.UK, checked
National Offer Day1 March (or the next working day if 1 March is a weekend or bank holiday)Source: GOV.UK, checked
Who you apply throughyou apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaSource: GOV.UK, checked
You can apply to schools in any council areaa parent can apply for any state-funded school in any areaSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Applying to private schoolsapply to private (independent) schools directlySource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
School place applications open1 SeptemberSource: GOV.UK, checked
Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: School place applications close (CAF)31 October 2026 (11:59pm for Buckinghamshire residents)Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
What counts as a late applicationan application made after the deadline, too late for National Offer DaySource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Schools you can name on the application (at least)at least threeSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
No extra priority for naming a school firstschools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank themSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Naming only one school gives no advantageListing only one school does not increase your chances of a place thereSource: GOV.UK, checked
One offer for each childthe council makes only one offer per childSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.