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Apply for a secondary school place

Children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 are due to start secondary school in September 2024.

If you live in Plymouth you can apply for a secondary school or key stage 4 place for your child from 4 September 2023.

If you do not live in Plymouth but want to apply for a Plymouth school, you will need to apply through your local council.

Secondary schools Date
Applications open Monday 4 September 2023
Applications close Tuesday 31 October 2023
Offer day Friday 1 March 2024
Deadline to accept offer Friday 8 March 2024

Choosing a school

You can find secondary schools on the GOV.UK website.

You will need to read the school's admissions policy and criteria. Under certain admission criteria, you will also need to check if a supplementary information form needs to be completed with your application.

The school will have their admission policy and supplementary information form (if needed) on their website.

Apply for a school place

You apply for a school place online through the Plymouth Citizen Portal. You will need to create an account to apply. 

You can apply for up to 3 schools. When applying you will be able to set your most preferred school.

If you have a My Plymouth account you will still need to create an account on the Plymouth Citizen Portal, the accounts are not linked.

You can amend and resubmit your application until 31 October (application’s closing date).

If you are not sure if you already have an account, try registering for a new account. If you have already registered and forgotten your password, you can reset your password. If you do not receive a reset password email school.admissions@plymouth.gov.uk and include:

  • email address used in the registration 
  • your name 
  • child’s name

Offer day

We will tell you which school your child has been allocated to on 1 March 2024.

You need to tell the School Admissions team whether you accept or reject the allocation offer by 23 April 2023. You do not need to contact the allocated school.

Your child will be placed on a waiting list for any higher ranked schools that you did not get an offer for. 

For example, if you are offered a place for your second preferred school, you will be added to the waiting list for the first preferred school. If you do not wish to remain on a waiting list you must tell the School Admissions team by email: school.admissions@plymouth.gov.uk

You can appeal against a school refusal decision.

Applying for a school place during the school year

If you're moving to Plymouth or want to change schools in Plymouth during the school year, you need to complete an in-year application form

Key stage 4

Plymouth has one key stage 4 school 'Scott Medical and Healthcare College'. The application process and key dates are the same as applying for a secondary school place.

Sixth form

Applications for sixth form (years 12 and 13) are made through the school.

The application process and requirements will be available on the school’s website.

You can find sixth form schools on the GOV.UK website.

Additional information

Our parents’ guide has full details on:

  • how admissions works
  • allocations
  • choosing a school
  • applying
  • commonly asked question

Supplementary information forms