Starting junior school - age 7

Starting and applying for Junior school – age 7

The closing date for on-time applications to Junior schools was 15 January 2025. Please refer to the late applications section.

Key dates

13 November 2024: Online admissions open
15 January 2025: Deadline for applications and supporting information
16 April 2025: Offer day, letters posted first class, results can be viewed if applied online
1 May 2025: Deadline to accept offer of school place
2 May 2025: Waiting list information available
15 May 2025: Closing date for receipt of appeals to be heard together

The application process

Starting junior school is an important stage in your child’s life. It's important to remember that if your child attends an infant school, there is no automatic transfer to the linked junior school - you still need to apply.

Before making an application, we recommend that you read the parents guide to primary and junior school admissions (PDF) and the co-ordinated admissions schemee (PDF.) This contains all statutory information you need to know before applying for a school place.

If you live in the Wokingham Borough, you should apply to us for a junior school place, even if you want to apply for a school in another local authority area.

Check your local council area on the Gov.uk website if you're not sure which local authority area you should apply to.

What schools you can apply to

When you make an application to us you can list up to 4 schools, in order of preference. You can list only Junior schools as your preferences.

Every infant school has a junior school which it's linked to. This school is given the highest priority and we recommend you include this as one of your choices.
You can use our schools designated areas page to find out which designated or 'catchment' area you live in.
You can see a list of state schools in the parents' guide to starting infant, primary and junior school (PDF.)
You can list any junior state school as one of your preferences, even if it isn't in our borough.
If you want to apply for a primary school, you will need to make an In Year application. Please refer to the In-year admissions - moving to a different school page for information.
If you want to apply to a private school you will need to apply to the school directly.

Do not include primary schools on your application. If you want to apply for a primary school, you will need to make an In Year application 6 weeks in advance of the school place being required. Please refer to the In-year admissions - moving to a different school page for information.

On time applications submitted by 15 January 2025

The application process commences 13 November 2024 and continues until 31 August 2025.

For an application to be considered on time it must be submitted between
13 November 2024 and 15 January 2025.

Applications should be made via the Citizens Portal online school admissions website before 15 January 2025. You will not be able to apply via Citizens Portal after this date.

If you are unable to apply using the Citizens Portal, paper applications can be requested by contacting schooladmissions@wokingham.gov.uk. Paper application forms must also be received by the 15 January 2025 deadline.

Paper application forms and online applications are treated the same and are not treated on a 'first come, first served' basis.

Late applications

If you are applying for a junior school place after 15 January 2025 and up to 31 August 2025, you will need to make a late application.

To make a late application download and complete one of the forms below and return it to schooladmissions@wokingham.gov.uk.

You will also need to provide the reasons for your application being submitted after the national deadline.

Late applications will be considered after national offer day.

Late starting junior school application form 2025

How are places allocated

If a school does not have enough places for everyone who applies, the admission rules for that school will be used to decide who will get a place. Every school has a set of rules, known as the 'admissions arrangements' or ' oversubscription' criteria.

Schools that are oversubscribed will follow these rules when allocating places.

We recommend that parents read the parents guide to primary and junior school admissions (PDF) the understand how community schools consider applications. For own admission authority schools, we recommend parents read the schools admissions arrangement document which they can find on the school website, so they understand how each school considers applications.

Wokingham schools

Schools in other boroughs

If you've selected a school in another borough, you should check to make sure if there are any extra forms you need to complete. You can find our neighbouring boroughs below: