Key dates
All local authorities are required to publish the coordinated scheme and timeline for admission arrangements to the normal admissions round and late applications.
The following gives information about the key dates for our coordinated scheme for 2026 to 2027.
Application dates
| Open date | Close date | Offer date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary | 4 August 2025 | 31 October 2025 | 2 March 2026 |
| Primary | 3 November 2025 | 15 January 2026 | 16 April 2026 |
Primary
Including children starting school for the first time (reception) and infant (year 2) to junior transfers (year 3).
Key dates for applications to primary schools
| Stage | Dates | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
From Monday 3 November 2025 |
Information about applying for a school place available to parents. |
|
2 |
Thursday 15 January 2026 |
National closing date for applications and any supplementary or supporting information, including any special circumstances. |
|
3 |
Tuesday 27 January 2026 |
Exchange of application information between Nottinghamshire County Council and other local authorities for schools in their area. |
|
4 |
Friday 30 January 2026 |
Last date for exceptional late applications and changes to preference to be received by Nottinghamshire County Council in order for a decision to be made whether the application can be considered as on time. Proof of address to be received where relevant. |
|
5 |
By Thursday 5 February 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council sends application information to own admission authority schools within Nottinghamshire. |
|
6 |
By Friday 13 March 2026 |
Own admission authority schools return all preferences in rank order of priority to Nottinghamshire County Council. |
|
7 |
Between Monday 16 March 2026 and |
Nottinghamshire County Council makes provisional decisions taking into account the ranking of preferences and informs other local authorities of these provisional decisions. |
|
8 |
By Wednesday 8 April 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council informs other local authorities of final allocations. |
|
9 |
Wednesday 15 April 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council informs all Nottinghamshire schools of final allocations. |
|
10 |
Thursday 16 April 2026 |
Offers communicated to Nottinghamshire parents including offers on behalf of own admission authority schools and schools within other local authorities. Emails sent to Nottinghamshire parents who provided an email address. All other applications are sent a letter posted second class. |
|
11 |
Friday 15 May 2026 |
Deadline for lodging an appeal. |
|
12 |
Tuesday 9 June 2026 |
Earliest date first appeals can be heard. |
|
13 |
Friday 17 July 2026 |
Last date on-time appeals can be heard. |
Secondary
Including primary (year 6) to secondary transfer (year 7) and transfer to a school with an atypical age of admission (year 9 or year 10).
Key dates for applications to secondary schools
| Stage | Dates | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
From Monday 4 August 2025 |
Information about applying for a school place available to parents |
|
2 |
Friday 31 October 2025 |
National closing date for applications and any supplementary or supporting information, including any special circumstances. |
|
3 |
By Tuesday 11 November 2025 |
Exchange of application information between Nottinghamshire County Council and other local authorities for schools in their area. |
|
4 |
Monday 24 November 2025 |
Last date for exceptional late applications and changes to preference to be received by Nottinghamshire County Council in order for a decision to be made whether the application can be considered as on time. Proof of address to be received where relevant. |
|
5 |
By Wednesday 26 November 2025 |
Nottinghamshire County Council sends application information to own admission authority schools within Nottinghamshire. |
|
6 |
By Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
Own admission authority schools return all preferences in rank order of priority to Nottinghamshire County Council. |
|
7 |
Between Friday 16 January 2026 and Friday 20 February 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council makes provisional decisions taking into account the ranking of preferences and informs other local authorities of these provisional decisions. |
|
8 |
By Monday 23 February 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council informs other local authorities of final allocations. |
|
9 |
Friday 27 February 2026 |
Nottinghamshire County Council informs all Nottinghamshire schools of final allocations. |
|
10 |
Monday 2 March 2026 |
Offers communicated to Nottinghamshire parents including offers on behalf of own admission authority schools and schools within other local authorities. Emails sent to Nottinghamshire parents who applied online and opted to receive an email. Letters are posted second class |
|
11 |
Monday 13 April 2026 |
Deadline for lodging an appeal. |
|
12 |
Wednesday 29 April 2026 |
Earliest date first appeals can be heard. |
|
13 |
Wednesday 17 June 2026 |
Last date on-time appeals can be heard. |
