Admissions to Primary school September 2025

Applying for a school transfer 

Parents with children of statutory school age who move into Gateshead and require a school place, or who are resident in Gateshead and wish to change their child's school, must complete a school transfer application form. Alternatively, paper copies are available from the School Admissions Team on telephone number 0191 433 8589. 

If you are moving to a new house, the council will require a copy of the exchange of contracts or a rental agreement before the new address will be considered. School places cannot be offered on the basis on intended future changes of address unless the relevant documentary evidence is provided. 

Year groups in some schools may be full and may not have places available when you move house or decide to transfer your child from one school to another. Unfortunately, we cannot hold places back for parents who decide in the future to move into a particular area. 

The admission policies contained within this booklet are used for casual admissions (in-year transfers) and also for the normal first year of entry intake. The offer of a place at any school is dependent on the availability of places in the relevant year group at the time of application. 

Application form and process 

If you require a place in a Gateshead school you must complete a school transfer application form

• the application form allows you to express a preference for up to three schools in Gateshead
• all persons with parental responsibility for the child must agree to the request before the form is completed
• section A and C of the form must be fully complete before the form can be processed
• if you are new to the UK from overseas, you must also complete Section B of the form and attach relevant documentary evidence, such as child's passport or ID card
• since you have completed Section A (and Section B if you are new to the UK), you must send the full form to your child's current school where possible for them to complete Section C. They will then forward the completed form to the School Admissions Team to be processed
• once the School Admissions Team receive your completed form, a copy will be forwarded to the relevant schools, who have 10 school days to respond to the request, advising if a place is available
• if any of your preferences is for a faith school, they may contact you for further information to verify your child's religion
• you can complete a school transfer form up to a maximum of six weeks prior to the school place being required

However, if your request is for your child to transfer school at the start of a new academic year, that is, September, you can complete a form for a school transfer up to six weeks before the start of the summer holidays, that is, June of that year

• we cannot guarantee that your child will be offered a place at one of your chosen schools as this will depend on the availably of places at the schools you request
• Gateshead Council will notify you of the outcome of your request

If you are refused a place 

If we cannot offer your child a place at one of your chosen schools, we will let you know which other schools have places available and will notify you in writing of your right to appeal. Appeal forms are available from the School admissions team. 

Completed appeal forms must be returned to:

Democratic Services and Governance
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH

Your appeal will be heard within 30 school days following the date of receipt. Vacant places may arise before the date of the appeal hearing. Where this happens, the school will offer the vacant place to the child that is top of their waiting list using the admission criteria set out within their admission policy. 

Appeal forms for Voluntary Aided Schools are available directly from the school. 

Where year groups are full the school will maintain a waiting list and any vacancies which may arise will be offered using this list. If you would like your child's name placed on the waiting list for a school, you must contact the school to request this. If a place becomes available which can be offered to your child, you must then complete a school transfer form if you choose to take up this offer. 

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) 

School transfer requests for children with an EHCP will be referred to the Special Educational Needs Team who will work with parents to secure a place at a school where the specific needs of the child can be met.

Fair access protocol 

Fair access protocols exist to ensure that access to education is secured for vulnerable children and young people who are without a school place and where a placement in a mainstream school or alternative provision is appropriate. The fair access process also ensures that all schools admit their fair share of vulnerable children and young people. Our approach reflects a commitment by all our schools/academies to work in partnership with each other and the local authority in the interests of securing the best outcomes for children and young people. 

Should parents agree to a referral to the fair access process, although parents may state a preferred school, the panel may not offer a place at the parent's first choice of school as they have to take into account both the number and complexity of the student's allocated to school's via this process. This does not however remove the right of a parent to request an independent school appeal for a place at their first preference school, however, participation in the fair access process will be taken into consideration by the appeal panel. 

Fair access protocols are available on the Council's website or from the Education Support Team, telephone number 0191 433 8745.