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Secondary school admissions

Secondary admission guidance

Moving on to secondary school is one of the most important events in any child's life. At this time you are naturally concerned to do the best for your children, but you may feel uncertain about what to do. Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for parents to understand the application process.

Most parents prefer their children to go to the local school and a place can nearly always be allocated for them without difficulty. Sometimes, however, parents prefer a school outside their own area and may find that a place cannot be allocated. Inevitably, therefore, some parents will be disappointed.

Please read the Secondary school transfer guide and the Important notes for parents/carers on completing the application for a secondary school place, before you make your application.

Secondary school transfer guide

Our Secondary school transfer guide 2025 contains all the information you need to understand the arrangements for the transition of children to Herefordshire Secondary schools and how places are allocated.

It explains the rules and procedures the council has to follow to ensure that the system works as fairly as possible.

It is especially important when more parents apply for a particular school than there are places available.

In the Secondary school transfer guide 2025 you will find information about:

  • General admissions arrangements for transfer to secondary school
  • The admissions timetable for the 2025/6 school year
  • Details of allocations of secondary school places
  • Information about school transport

Staff in the Children's Wellbeing Directorate offer a friendly and efficient service to help parents.

Important notes for parents/carers on the application process

You can also download our Important notes for applying for a secondary school place for September 2025 which highlights the points parents need to bear in mind when applying for a secondary school place.

If you need any further assistance, please contact Herefordshire Council's school admissions team using the contact details below.

Need more help or advice?

If you need help or advice please get in touch with Dawn Skyrme - Secondary Transfers Admissions Officer on 01432 260925 who will be happy to help.

It is important to consider the following information before making an application for a secondary school place:

Exceptional circumstances

If you are applying for a place on the grounds of exceptional circumstances, medical, social or compassionate reasons, your request for a place on these grounds must be supported by documentation from a professionally qualified independent source. This should set out the reasons why the school in question is the only one suitable and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend any another school. If no supporting professionally qualified independent evidence is submitted this will not be considered. Applications on such grounds will be considered by an appointed advisory panel. Please refer to the Secondary school transfer guide for more information.

If you are applying for this criteria and the school that you are applying for is Voluntary Aided, or a Foundation or Academy School, you will need to see if this priority is in their admissions criteria. And you will need to send your supporting documentation directly to this school.

If you are applying on these grounds for a school in another authority you will need to check with them if this priority is in their admissions criteria and what supporting information is required.

Children arriving from overseas

In most cases, children arriving from overseas have the right to attend schools in England. School admission authorities must not refuse to admit a child on the basis of their nationality or immigration status nor remove them from roll on this basis. It is the responsibility of parents to check that their children have a right, under their visa entry conditions, to study at a school.

For overseas nationals entering the UK who wish to apply for a state-funded school, parents need to check they have a right of abode or the conditions of their visas otherwise permit them to access a state-funded school.

The government provides guidance on school applications for foreign national children and children resident outside England. This includes information about the rights of foreign nationals to access schools in England, and the process for doing so.

National guidance

There is also more information available on the following national sites:

Herefordshire schools admissions contact details

Address: School Admissions, Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane Offices, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0LE

Telephone: Reception admissions officers 01432 260926 or 01432 261574
Telephone: Secondary phase transfer officer 01432 260925
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