Your child's offer of a secondary school place explained

For applications for the 2025/2026 school year.

What happens now?

  • If your child has been offered a school place in Suffolk, the school will contact you directly to confirm the admission arrangements for September.
  • If your child has been offered a school place in another county, you need to contact the school directly to confirm acceptance of the offer.
  • If your child is eligible for Suffolk County Council (SCC) funded school travel the Passenger Transport Team will email you by 3 April 2025 with details of how to opt-in and when.
  • If you have not received an email from the Passenger Transport Team by 3 April 2025, and you think your child may be eligible for SCC funded school travel, please visit Suffolk on Board for more information on how you can apply.
  • If your child needs extra support to help them travel independently to their new school, explore the new Independent Travel Toolkit.

What do I need to do if my child no longer needs the school place offered?

Please email admissions@suffolk.gov.uk by 17 March 2025 to let us know and to tell us what education provision is in place for your child for September 2025.

Please note: We are unable to withdraw an offer of a school place unless your child has another education provision in place.

My child has been refused a place at a school. Can their name be added to the waiting list?

Your child's name has automatically been added to the waiting list for any Suffolk school(s) refused. To find out your child’s current waiting list position, please call 0345 600 0981 (local rate) or email admissions@suffolk.gov.uk.

Find out about waiting lists and when these will close.

If your child has been refused a place at a school in another county, a waiting list may operate for that school. You will need to contact the relevant council office or the school for further details.

Can I appeal against the decision to refuse my child a place?

Yes, you can. Your application will have been refused because there were more applications than places available and others had a higher priority for a place at the school.

You have the right of appeal if your child has been refused a place at any of your preferred school(s).

If you wish to appeal for a school in Suffolk, guidance notes and the appeal forms are available to download from the Education Appeals Office or you can contact 0345 600 0981 for a copy to be posted to you.

You should send your appeal form(s) to the Education Appeals Office by 31 March 2025 for your appeal to be heard by 18 June 2025. If they are received after this date they may be heard later. The Education Appeals Office will contact you with details of your appeal arrangements.

Further information can be found in the 'guide to education admission appeals’ alongside the ‘Notice of Appeal Form’ from the Education Appeals Office.

If your child has special educational needs, the Suffolk SENDIASS team offers impartial information, advice and support. To find out more, please visit their website at Suffolk SENDIASS. They can also be contacted on 01473 265210 or by emailing enquiries@suffolksendiass.co.uk.

If you want to appeal for a school outside of Suffolk, you must contact the relevant local authority who will provide you with the necessary forms and information.

Where can I find more information?