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 2027 (Children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | Monday 14 September 2026, 10am |
| Deadline date for us to receive completed application forms | Saturday 31 October 2026, 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Monday 1 March 2027 |
| Parents to notify the local authority of acceptance or refusal of places offered. | Monday 15 March 2027 |
| Closing date for parents/carers to submit an appeal | Monday 5 April 2027, 4pm |
Infant, junior and primary school admissions
The admissions timetable for Reception pupils starting in September 2027, or pupils moving from infant school (Year 2) to junior school (Year 3) in September 2027 (Reception – Children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. Year 3 Junior school – Children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday, 9 November 2026 at 10am |
| Deadline date for us to receive completed application forms | Friday, 15 January 2027 at 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Friday, 16 April 2027 |
| Parents to notify the local authority of acceptance or refusal of places offered. | Friday, 30 April 2027 |
| Closing date for parents/carers to submit an appeal | Friday, 14 May 2027 at 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 2027 (Children born between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday, 4 January 2027 at 10am |
| Closing date for receipt of applications by the local authority | Friday, 2 April 2027 at 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | Friday, 28 May 2027 |
Part-time Nursery admissions
The timetable for admissions to Part-time Nursery places starting in January 2027 or April 2027 (January 2027 – children born between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023. April 2027 – children born between 1 January 2024 and 31 March 2024):
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open: | Monday, 5 January 2026 at 10am |
| Closing date for receipt of applications by the local authority: | Friday 28 August 2026 at 4pm |
| Notification to parents/carers of acceptance/refusal of places | By 30 October 2026 |
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 2025-26 for more about our over-subscription criteria.