Apply for a school place - Dorset Council

Schools are now closed for the summer holidays. It is not possible to offer school places whilst schools are closed. We will aim to process any outstanding applications within 15 school days of the new school year in September 2025.

Our online school application system (Parent Portal) will be unavailable from 13 August until 25 August, due to a scheduled upgrade.

Starting school for the first time

Apply for a reception place at a school
Starting junior or middle school

Apply for a place at a junior or middle school.
Starting secondary or upper school

Apply for a place at a secondary or upper school.
Moving school partway through the year

Apply for a school place during the school year.
Schools that process their own in-year applications

Find out which schools you need to contact for moving school partway through the year.
School waiting lists

Add your child to a school waiting list.
Appeal a school place refusal

Find out what to do if your choice of school place has been refused.
Religious schools that need more information

Find out what information you need to provide to apply for a religious school.
Ofsted is changing how it inspects schools

Read more about Ofsted's new education inspection framework (EIF).
Parents' guide

Read our guide for parents applying for a school place in Dorset

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