How to apply for a school place

Applying for a Year 7 place starting 2025 for children born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014

Please read all the information before applying.

Important dates

The application process to apply on time starts on 1 September 2024.

The closing date for making your application on time is 31 October 2024.

3 March 2025 – result emailed by 5pm or details available in your online account.

5 March 2025 - Parents who submitted a paper application will receive the result by letter.

If you move house before the 31 December 2024 you MUST contact the School Admissions Team to update your address

Late applications received after 31 October 2024 will be considered in the second allocation round in April 2025.

Access the Coventry Education Services Portal to make your on-time application before 31 October 2024.

We recommend parents to apply online as:

• it is quick, easy to use and secure
• you receive an email confirmation once you submit your application
• there is no risk of your application getting lost in the post
• you can check and change your application up to the closing date. However, please make sure that you resubmit if you view or change it
• it saves time, paper and postage
• you will receive an email on the 3 March 2025 confirming the school allocated
• you can log into your account on 3 March 2025 to find out the result

If you do not have the internet at home please check with your child’s school or with libraries for support in completing your online application. Please use #CovConnects to find more information about access to free digital support in your area

Things to think about when making your application

We strongly recommend you include three choices of schools on your application; one being your catchment area school. There is no advantage in listing fewer than three schools or including the same school more than once; in fact, by not including 3 realistic choices, it could result in your child being allocated a school some distance away.

Key facts about the application process

• Parents must apply for a school place through their Local Authority (the city where you live/pay council tax too)
• Non-Coventry schools and Grammar schools can be listed on your application
• Even if you already have an older child at the school you must still apply for your younger child
• You should list three schools in order of preference. There is no advantage in listing fewer than three schools or including the same school more than once; in fact, by not including three realistic preferences, it could result in your child being allocated a school some distance away.
• If you live within a school catchment area you have more chance of your child being offered a place at that school. However, living within the catchment area does not guarantee a place at that school as there may be more applicants than available places to allocate. Information regarding the catchment area for your address.
• School Open Days are advertised at Secondary school open evenings
• Please check the details on applying for a faith school as they may require you to provide additional information as part of the application process

Increase your chances of getting the school you want

A copy of the secondary school admissions booklet is on our website at Primary and Secondary school admissions booklets. Please consider each school’s specific admissions arrangements carefully when making your application.

• Look at the oversubscription criteria in the policy to work out which priority would be given to your application.
• Check how places have been allocated in the last 3 years
• Check your distance from the school. The Admissions team can confirm this for you, please email: secondaryadmissions@coventry.gov.uk stating ‘distance query’ in the subject box.
• Compare your priority and distance with how places have been offered in previous years to get an indication of how successful your application might be.

Applying for a Faith School

You will need to complete the supplementary form if you are applying for a place under the faith criteria for the following schools

• Blue Coat Church of England School
• Seva School

In addition, if you are applying for Eden Girls School under exceptional medical/social grounds, you should provide supporting evidence directly to the school.

Please ensure that you return your completed supplementary form/supporting evidence to the school direct before 31 October 2024.

If you have included a Catholic School as a preference; you must indicate on your application whether your child is a Baptised Catholic. You must also forward a copy of your child’s certificate to each of the Catholic Schools you have requested by the 31 October 2024. Failure to do so could result in your child not being considered under the appropriate admissions criteria

Multiple applications (twins/triplets)

If you need to apply for more than one child you should complete and submit separate applications for each child.

Please note:

• For September 2025 a number of schools have consulted and agreed on changes to their admissions criteria. Therefore, please look at the admissions policy for each school.
• If you are a Coventry resident but want to apply for schools in other Local Authorities e.g. Warwickshire or Solihull, you only have to complete a Coventry application form and indicate the school you want on this form.
• Coventry City does not have any Grammar schools in its area. To apply for a Grammar school, you will need to include the school within your Coventry application in order for them to be considered. However, you must ensure that you have already registered to sit the 11+ test with the Local Authority in which the Grammar school is situated as the deadline date to register is usually at the end of June the year before your child starts secondary school. Coventry School Admissions do not administer the 11+ test.

If you are confused about the process please do not just take advice from family/friends, call the school admissions team on 024 7697 5445 who are there to provide you with their expertise and knowledge.

If you need help with translating this information, please ring the Access to Education Service on 024 7697 8944.

Further information on the application process and timeline.