When do I apply?
If you live in Northamptonshire and your child:
- is in Year 6 in primary school and due to transfer to secondary school in September 2012 or
- is in Year 8 in a middle school and due to transfer to upper school in September 2012
The closing date for applications was 31st October 2011 (5:00pm). If you are yet to apply you will need to make a late application.
How do I make a late application?
Before making an application, please refer to the "Applying for a Secondary School Place in Northamptonshire for September 2012" guidance booklet. You can download a copy from the link below or there are reference copies in primary schools. This contains guidance on how to apply, school details and oversubscription criteria.
We strongly recommend that you read this booklet before making an application.
The only way to make a late application is to complete a paper form. These can be requested from the Admissions Team by calling 01604 236599 or emailing admissions@northamptonshire.gov.uk
The application process involves you filling out a preference form where you tell us of up to three schools you would be happy for your child to go to. Applications received after 5:00pm on 31st October 2011 will be classed as late and will be processed after those received by the deadline.
Remember that you are not choosing a school for your child, you are expressing a preference.
Please bear in mind that many secondary schools require you to fill in an additional form as well, if you have listed them amongst your preferences. These forms need to be returned to the school to which you are applying.
Applying for Corby Technical School
In addition to the preferences made to the county council, parents are able to apply for a place at Corby Technical School. Full information can be found on the Brooke Weston Partnership website. The document below outlines the oversubscription criteria for the school.
What if my child has a statement of special needs?
If your child has a statement of special educational needs please refer to the following guidance:
My child attends a Northamptonshire Primary School but we live in another county, how do I apply?
The allocation of secondary school places is coordinated, meaning parents must apply to their home authority. Therefore if you are not resident in Northamptonshire, you must apply through your home authority even if your preferred school is in Northamptonshire. Equally, if you live in Northamptonshire you must apply to Northamptonshire County Council even if your preferred school is in another authority. Use the following link to contact your local authority to request details on how to apply:
When will I find out which school my child has been allocated a place at?
On the 1st March 2012 (National allocation day) we will post a letter to your home address to tell you where your child has been allocated a school place.
How are school places allocated?
A significant number of Northamptonshire schools regularly receive more applications than they have places available (known as the Admission Number). If this is the case, the school’s oversubscription admission criteria are applied to determine to whom the places are offered. The over subscription admission criteria for each secondary school can be found in the Information for Parents booklet.
For more information regarding individual schools i.e. Ofsted Reports and DfE performance data please visit the:
Allocations to all Secondary Schools are based on an equal preference system. This means that for all schools, all pupils stating a preference regardless of whether it is a first, second or third preference will be considered against the published admission criteria - priority is not given to those placing the school as a first preference.
A more detailed explanation of this can be found below:
Every year, for a small number of pupils, it is not possible to offer any of their preferences. This can be due to parents only stating one preference, or making a preference for popular schools some distance from their home address.
In these cases the council will offer a place at the nearest school with places available at the end of the process.
Information in languages other than English