Apply for admission to school
View school admission opening/closing dates and apply for your child’s school place online.
We have a statutory duty to, where possible, educate children at the school preferred by their parents or carers.
In the vast majority of cases, parents are happy to choose their catchment school. However, it is legally necessary for that school to be selected and named on the ‘Admission to School' form and returned by the deadline. A place will not automatically be available at a particular school, even if you live in the catchment area.
Bridgend County Borough Council is the admissions authority for community schools. Applications to Welsh-medium schools are made through the same forms as English-medium schools use, and to the same schedules. For voluntary aided schools, the admissions authority is the governing body for the school.
Admissions to voluntary aided schools
The admissions authority for voluntary aided schools is the governing body of the school. Please contact the following schools directly for the admissions criteria:
- Archdeacon John Lewis Church in Wales Primary School, Bridgend
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Bridgend
- St Mary’s and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Maesteg
- St Robert’s Catholic Primary School, Bridgend
- Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School, Bridgend
Apply online
You should apply for your child’s school place online when applications open. Get peace of mind seeing that your application has been received via My Account.
It’s quick and easy to do, and an email address is all you need. Sign up to My Account today or log in to access, complete and submit your application form.
Secondary school admissions
The admissions timetable for pupils moving from junior/primary school (Year 6) to secondary school (Year 7) in September 2025 (Children born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday 14 October 2024, 10am |
| Deadline date for us to receive completed applications | Friday 17 January 2025, 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Monday 3 March 2025 |
| Closing date for parents/carers to submit appeals | Monday 31 March 2025, 4pm |
Infant, junior and primary school admissions
The admissions timetable for Reception pupils starting in September 2025, or pupils moving from infant school (Year 2) to junior school (Year 3) in September 2025 (Reception – Children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021. Year 3 Junior school – Children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Application open: | Monday 11 November 2024, 10am |
| Deadline date for us to receive completed application forms | Friday 14 February 2025, 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Wednesday 16 April 2025 |
| Closing date for parents/carers to submit an appeal | Wednesday 14 May 2025, 4pm |
Full-time Nursery admissions
The timetable for nursery admissions is not governed by the School Admissions Code (2013)
The timetable for admissions to full-time nursery places starting in September 2025 (Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday 6 January 2025, 10am |
| Closing date for receipt of applications by the local authority | Friday 4 April 2025, 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Friday 30 May 2025 |
Part-time Nursery admissions
TThe timetable for admissions to Part-time Nursery places starting in January 2026 or April 2026 (January 2026 – children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2022. April 2026 – children born between 1 January 2023 and 31 March 2023):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open: | Monday 6 January 2025 at 10am |
| Closing date for receipt of applications by the local authority: | Friday 29 August 2025 at 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | By 31 October 2025 |
Over-subscription criteria
In parts of Bridgend County Borough, there is pressure on school places. Where applications exceed available places, we will use the over-subscription criteria to allocate places by priority. Consequently, some children may not get a place at their preferred school, and this is more likely if they live outside the school catchment area. Read our School Admissions Policy 2024-2025 for more about our over-subscription criteria.