Apply for a school place
Apply for a place at an infant, junior, primary or secondary school online or using a paper form, and find out what documents we might ask for after you've submitted your application.
Apply online to start school in September 2027 or change schools at another time
To apply online, sign in or register for MyAccount.
To apply, you need to:
- tell us if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan
- let us know if there are exceptional reasons why your child needs to go to a specific school
- upload or email supporting documents as evidence for some of the questions
If you need help to fill in this form, contact our Schools Admission Team.
Apply to start school in September 2027 or change schools at another time if you can't apply online
If you can't apply online, you can apply for a school place by completing one of the paper forms below.
You need to download the form, print it, complete the form and return it by post or in person to one of the schools in the city.
Download the application form to start infant or primary school in Reception.
Download the application form to start junior school in Year 3.
Download the application form to start secondary school in Year 7.
Download the application form to start school at any other time during the year.
If you apply late
If you apply after the deadline, return the completed form by post or a scanned copy by email to our School Admissions Team.
Applying to voluntary aided and free schools
If you want to apply for a place at a voluntary aided or free school with a paper form, you also need to complete a supplementary information form for that school. Send the completed form to the school, or upload it with your online school application.
After you apply
Documents we might ask for
Proof of address
When you apply for a school place, we'll check that your address matches your council tax records.
Providing proof of address does not guarantee your child a place at your preferred school.
If you recently moved to the city and haven’t registered for Council Tax in Brighton & Hove, or we cannot verify your address via the council tax register, you will need to send us proof of your address.
Send a copy of one of the following:
- your driving licence
- recent gas, electricity, water or landline phone utility bill for your home address
- your current, signed tenancy agreement arranged through a letting or estate agency
- your solicitor’s letter showing completion of sale on the property
- patient summary record from your GP clearly showing your name and address
We may also ask for proof of address if:
- you've recently changed your address in the city
- your child stays at more than one address, and we need to decide which is the main home address
Even if you prove that you live at the address yourself, we may still need proof that your child (or children if you are claiming a sibling link) lives there as well.
Proof the child lives with you
We may need to see proof that the child lives with you. If we do, send a copy of the child’s patient summary record from their GP clearly showing their name and address.
If you don't provide proof
If you don't email us proof of your address, we will assume that your child lives further away than other children applying for the same school.