Admissions

How to apply for a school place?

Please use the following link to apply for a school place - Apply for a school – Applying to primary or junior schools - Lincolnshire County Council

Education Admission Timetable

You should apply for your child to start primary or infant school if they:

were born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020
are in year 2 at an infant school and need a place in year 3 at a junior or primary school

Children can start school at any time until they reach the compulsory school age, which is the term after the child turns 5.

You can request to delay your child’s start date until later in the academic year but not after they reach the compulsory school age.

You can also request that your child takes up their school place part-time until they reach the compulsory school age.

You can learn more about delaying starting school in our going to school in Lincolnshire guide, which also includes further general information on applying for a primary or junior school place.

Application dates

Key dates	Details
15 November 2024	Admissions open
15 January 2025	Admissions close (national closing date)
10 February 2025	Lincolnshire final closing date for late applications and changes (your application may not be accepted if you apply to schools outside of Lincolnshire).
17 April 2025	Admissions reopen for late applications or changes
19 May 2025	Admissions close
after 2 June 2025	Main allocation process ends and all further applications are dealt with on at least a weekly basis

When you apply:

you can select up to three schools, which you should put in order of your preference
it is recommended to check if your child is eligible for free school transport before you apply, as this might determine which schools you choose to apply for
you can amend your application at any time before the final closing date. If you miss the first closing date, you must wait until admission reopens. Please note this might not apply if you apply to a school outside of Lincolnshire. If this is the case, please check with the relevant authority for the school
if your child needs a school place in a different year group or wants to move schools at another point during the year, you will need to apply to move schools.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way the appeal hearing was conducted, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is unable to overturn a panel’s decision but may suggest a fresh appeal with a new panel and clerk.

Complaints about academy appeals need to be sent to the Education Funding Agency by:

emailing academy.questions@education.gsi.gov.uk
or writing to Admission Appeal Complaints, Academies Central Unit, Education Funding and Skills Agency, Earlsdon Park, Butts Road, Coventry, CV1 3BH

Or contact Mrs Gemma Atkinson, Hillcrest Early Years Academy Admission Officer on 01427 613483.

Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy – Lincolnshire County Council