From 1 September you have the right to express a preference for the school you'd prefer your child to attend in September 2025. The closing date is 15 January 2025.

Late applications cannot be submitted online. You can view or download our application form to post or email to us:

We will let you know your outcome:

• on 16 April 2025 if you apply on time (before the 15 January 2025)
• on 13 May 2025 if you apply late (between 16 January and 7 February 2025)
• from June onwards if you apply after 8 February 2025

You must apply to the local authority where you live, even if the schools you are applying for are in another area.

If you are a resident outside of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole then you should contact your local council for details of how to apply:

• Dorset residents
• Hampshire residents

Further Information

You can find information about all aspects of starting or moving up to a school in our parents guides. There is booklet for:

• children who are starting school,
• moving up to Junior or Middle school
• children moving up to Secondary or Upper school

Once you have read these, if you have any further questions please contact our Children's Information Service by:

• telephone on 01202 123222
• email at cis@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

You can find useful dates in the Coordinated Scheme.

We recommended that you read the full admissions policy for the school(s) you wish to apply for.

Applying on faith grounds

There are a number of faith schools within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole that require proof of religious commitment to be considered under their faith criteria. If you are applying for one of the following schools you will need to complete and return this Faith Grounds supplementary information form (SIF).

• Burton CE Primary School.

You need to ask your priest or minister to complete and return it to our school admissions team by the closing date of 15 January 2025.

The following schools also have SIFs. These need to be returned to the school by the closing date of 15 January 2025:

• Bishop Aldhelm’s CE VA Primary School
• Christ the King Catholic Primary School
• Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
• Highcliffe St Mark Primary School
• Lilliput CE Infant School 
• Longfleet CE Primary School 
• St Joseph’s RC Primary School Christchurch
• St Joseph’s RC Primary School Poole
• St Mark’s CE Primary School
• St Mary’s RC Primary School
• St Walburga’s Catholic Primary School

If you are thinking of applying to a faith school in another local authority, please check their website and policy to find out if they require completion of their own SIF.

If you do not return a completed SIF by the published closing date your application will still be processed but the SIF will not be taken into account.

Applying on service premium grounds

The following schools consider service premium and require proof to be considered under their service premium criteria:

• Bayside Academy
• Twin Sails Infant School and Nursery

If you wish to apply for a place on service premium grounds, please check their website and policy to find out more.

You need to complete and return it to the school by the published closing date.

If you do not return a completed SIF by the published closing date, your application will still be processed but the SIF will not be taken into account.

Late applications

Applications received after the published closing dates will be processed after all the on time applications. This may mean that regularly oversubscribed schools are full before late applications are considered.

Application outcomes

If you apply online you can login to your account and view the result of your application on the notification date.

If you do not provide an email address, you will receive your offer letter by post.

2024 allocation

View how places have been offered for 2024 for primary, infant and first schools.

2023 allocation

You can see how places were offered for primary, infant and first schools in September 2023.