Introduction
If you applied online by 15 January 2025, you will receive an email with the outcome of your application on 16 April 2025.
If you applied using a paper application form your outcome will be sent out by second class post on 16 April 2025.
From 16 April 2025 you can also view the outcome of your application by logging into the online application system.
How long your school place remains available
Unless you have formally deferred your child’s entry to school (starting school only), your child’s school place will remain available for 20 school days after the first day of term.
When your child has not been offered a place at one or more of your preferred schools
It may not be possible for the admission authority to offer your child a place at your highest preference school, however, you may still be offered a place at your second or third preference school.
On some occasions, it may not be possible for an admissions authority to offer your child a place at any of your preferred schools. If this is the case, we would normally offer the catchment school if there are places available.
If this is not the case, we would try to offer a place at the nearest alternative school with places available within statutory walking distance of the child’s home address (2 miles for children under 8 years of age and 3 miles for children aged 8 years and over).
Appeals
If you are not offered one or more of your preferences, you will be advised of your legal right to appeal for a place at your preferred school. Information about the appeal process will be sent to you with your outcome letter or email, detailing your options.
Please note that your appeal will not affect any offer you have already received in respect of another school unless you are successful at your appeal.
Places becoming available
For every over-subscribed school, a ranked waiting list will be held in order of over-subscription criteria by the Admissions Authority until at least 31 December.
For VC and C schools, please make a written request to us for your child to remain on the waiting list after this time. For own admission authority schools, you will need to check the individual school or academy’s admission arrangements on their website.
If places subsequently become available within the PAN they will be reallocated to the highest ranked child on the waiting list. The waiting list will include all applications refused, whether they were on time or late and will be ranked according to the school’s over-subscription criteria.
Help and support
The Somerset Choice Advice Service is a free impartial service to help families with school admissions and appeals. For more information, please visit their website.