Dorset Co-ordinated Admission Scheme 2025 to 2026
| Admissions area | Secondary | Primary |
|---|---|---|
| Closing date - for applications (EHCP and Children in Care) (Applicants applying on aptitude/ability will be advised of the outcome of the testing (not guarantee of a placement) in good time to complete a preference application by the closing date.) | 31 October 2024 | 15 January 2025 |
| Final EHCP allocations confirmed to School Admissions | 12 January 2025 | 15 February 2025 |
| Latest Date for Children in Care applications | 31 January 2025 | 14 March 2025 |
| Application Exchange - Dorset LA exchanges applications with other LAs | 15 November 2024 | 3 February 2025 |
| Verifying Criteria & Ranking Deadline - for Admission Authorities to complete the process of verifying and confirming the criteria for their applications, ranking those applications and returning them to the Local Authority | 10 January 2025 | 6 March 2025 |
| First Offer Exchange - First exchange of offers between LAs | 27 January 2025 | 14 March 2025 |
| Final Offer Exchange - Final exchange of offers between LAs | 7 February 2025 | 28 March 2025 |
| Final Allocation Notification - Dorset LA to inform all schools of final allocations | 21 February 2025 | 7 April 2025 |
| Notification Day - Dorset LA sends notification to home applicants (National Offer Day or the next working day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday) | 3 March 2025 | 16 Aril 2025 |
| Parents respond to the offer | 15 March 2025 | 2 May 2025 |
Dorset Council will have a single late round inline with all neighbouring authorities.
The single late round for each cycle will close the day prior to the National Offer Day of that cycle.
All applications after the National Offer day will no longer be batch co-ordinated and will be dealt with as In-Year Transfers and will be dealt with as they are received.
| Round | Late closing date | Late offer date | Late response date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Late | 2 March 2025 | 2 April 2025 | 16 April 2025 |
| Primary Late | 15 April 2025 | 14 May 2025 | 30 May 2025 |
Secondary Applications received after 2nd February and Primary Applications after the 15th April will be processed as quickly as possible as they are received and as In-Year Transfers.
Please note applications received within the last few weeks of term and during the summer holidays may not be processed until the schools return from their summer break.