Admissions to Primary school September 2025

I do not live in Gateshead, how do I apply to Gateshead schools?

You must apply direct to your home local authority. They will forward a copy of your application form to Gateshead. If you are not offered a Gateshead School your home local authority will ensure your child is offered a school place in your area.

How can I assess the likelihood of there being a place for my child at the school I want?

Look at the school admission policy to see how high up the admission criteria your child will be. You can also look at the statistical information for the school in section 3 of this booklet. This information will give you an idea of the number of applications, offers and appeals received for the last two academic years. However, these figures can change significantly from year to year.

Why should I apply to more than one school?

If you only list one school on your application form you cannot be certain that your child will be offered a place there. If you do not let us know about other schools on your application form that you might have considered as a second or third preference then you may run the risk of leaving it too late to obtain a place at these schools if your application for a first preference school is unsuccessful. We strongly recommend you use all three preferences, doing so does not reduce your chance of gaining a place at your first preference school. Please remember we cannot guarantee that your child will be offered a place at one of your chosen schools, even if you live in the catchment area or already have another child attending the school, as this will depend on the number of applications the school receives.

I share custody of my child with my ex-partner, what address should I use on the application form?

You must contact The School Admissions Team on 0191 433 2756, 433 3909, 433 2109 or 433 8591 before completing your application form and you will be given individual advice on this issue. It is expected that where there is shared parental responsibility for a child, that parents will agree which parent has the main responsibility before completing their application form. Documentary evidence will be requested. If you are unable to provide evidence of shared responsibility the local authority will use the address of the parent/carer who receives the child benefit.

My child has Special Educational Needs. Should I still complete an application form?

If your child is being assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or already has an EHCP, you should still complete a primary school application form. The School Admissions Team will liaise with the Special Educational Needs Team, who will inform them of your child's final school placement when it is named on their EHCP.

What happens if I miss the closing date of 15 January 2025?

Your application will be classed as late and you will reduce your chances of gaining a place at your chosen schools. You must give a reason as to why your application was submitted late. For applications received after 15 January 2025 but on or before 28 February 2025 we may be able to consider your application for exceptional reasons. For example, you may have just moved into the area. In such circumstances proof of ownership or tenancy of your address will be required.

Each late application will be decided on its own merits. You need to be aware that if we agree to consider a late application as on-time for exceptional reasons this does not in itself mean that we can offer your child a place. It simply means that your application will be considered in accordance with the admission criteria along with all other applications that were received on time.

Late applications received after 28 February 2025 will not be processed until after 16 April 2025, however an offer will be made at an alternative school if there are still places available.

If you submit a late application, you must explain the reasons on your form as to why it is late.

What happens if I change my preferences after the closing date of 15 January 2025?

Change of preferences will only be considered if you can demonstrate that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the reasons for the change. You need to think carefully about the initial preferences you rank on your application form as the majority of change of preference requests for oversubscribed schools are not considered to be exceptional.

If we cannot consider your change of preference we will proceed with the preferences you gave on your original application form for determining the offer of places on 16 April 2025. Any change of preference request received after 28 February 2025 will not be processed until after 16 April 2025.

What happens if I move house after the closing date of 15 January 2025?

Please refer to page 72 of this booklet for information on how your application will be considered if you move house after the closing date.

What happens if I do not complete an application form?

If you are a Gateshead resident a place will still be offered to your child, at your catchment school or next nearest school with places available. However, this offer may be made after 16 April 2025.

What happens if my child is not offered a place at any of my preferred schools?

Your child will be offered a place at your catchment school or next nearest school depending upon the availability of places.

If you are refused a place you have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel and request that your child's name is placed on the schools waiting list. Waiting lists are maintained according to the schools admission criteria with no regard to the ranking the school was given on the application form. A child's position on a waiting list may change due to additions or deletions of children on the list.

In general fewer than half of appeals are decided in the parents favour for years 3,4,5 and 6. In respect of infant class sizes, reception and years 1 and 2 very few appeals are successful due to the legislation relating to statutory class size limitations in key stage 1. Further information regarding statutory class size legislation is available on page 76 of this booklet.

What happens if my child's preferred school(s) receive more applications than the number of places available?

If a school/academy has too many applications for the places available they are known as an over-subscribed school. Places will be allocated using the schools admission criteria set out in their admission policy. The admission criteria for Gateshead schools can be found from page 10 of this booklet. You must read the admission policy for every school you apply to, even if it is outside Gateshead.