Admission to Primary or Secondary School

Welcome to the school admissions website.  A range of advice is provided for parents.  You can also apply for a school place online.  If you wish to write, telephone or email contact details are as follows:

The School Places Team
Children's Services Directorate
5 Portland Square
CARLISLE
Cumbria
CA1 1PU

Tel: (01228) 606930, 601159, 606999, 601171, 601219 or 601198

Email:

spt@cumbriacc.gov.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact the School Places Team if you would like advice on anything to do with your child[ren]'s admission to school.

When do children in Cumbria start school and transfer to the next stage of their education?

Children in Cumbria can begin their full-time primary education by entering a Reception class the September following their fourth birthday.

Children entering Reception at a primary school can stay there until they are eleven.  Children attending an infant school, transfer to a junior or primary school at the age of seven.

Children transfer to secondary school the September following their eleventh birthday.

Information is also provided on this website for parents who need to apply for a school place at other times.

When does the application process start each year and when are the closing dates?

Secondary transfer - information about this is available early in the September prior to transfer.  The closing date for applications each year is the Friday before the October half-term break.

Junior transfer - information about this is available mid September in the year prior to transfer.  The closing date for applications is very early in November the year before transfer.

Starting school - information about this is available mid October in the year before a child can start school.  The closing date for Reception applications is the first working day in December.

These closing dates are very important.  Don't let your child miss out by applying late.

How do I find out about schools in Cumbria?

To find out about schools in Cumbria please use the link below:

Schools in Cumbria