Choosing a secondary school

Introduction

In Somerset, you can choose up to 3 preferences in ranked order. Please visit the Find a school page to find schools in your local area.

The best way to find out more about schools is to visit them. Contact the school directly for more information. You can also:

• visit the school website
• attend the open day or evenings
• look at the school’s performance tables
• get a copy of the school’s most recent OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education) inspection report on the OFSTED website
• view the published GCSE examination results for secondary or upper schools for the summer of 2024. You can find this on the Department for Education website 

School catchment 

Check the catchment area of the school you are interested in. If you live in Somerset, you can find out if your address is in the (catchment) area for a Somerset school by visiting our School catchment page.

Applying for a school outside Somerset

Applications must be made to your home local authority regardless of where the school is situated. If you live in Somerset, please apply online and choose your preferred schools by 31 October 2024.

Please note that the published admission arrangements for another county may be different from those in Somerset. You must make sure you fully understand the published admission arrangements and over-subscription criteria applying to the school concerned before you make your application and to find out if you need to complete a SIF .

All-through schools

An all-through school covers Reception through to the end of Year 11. This is primary and secondary phases combined.

Parents who have children on roll at an all-through school do not need to make a separate secondary school application for the same school.

However, if your child is not currently on roll at an all-through school and you would like to apply for the secondary phase, you must make an application by the published deadline.