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Admissions

How do I apply for an infant or primary school place?

If you want to apply for a school place for September 2027, you will be able to apply from Wednesday 6 September 2026.

If you have a query about school admissions please email school.admissions@cumberland.gov.uk 

Apply for an infant or primary school place

School places are not offered based on how early you apply, so if you submit your application form before the closing date it will be processed on-time. It doesn't matter if it is submitted on the day the application process opens or the last day before the closing date, it will still be processed.

If your child attends a nursery school that's attached to your preferred school, it does not mean you do not have to apply for a reception place - you still need to apply for a school place.

If you live in Cumberland and your child was born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, they will be due to start school in the Reception year group in September 2027.  You must apply to us for a place.

To apply for a Reception place for your child in September 2027,

You can:

If you cannot apply online, you can either email or post us the application form.

Document

SA1 Starting school - September 2027 (DOCX, 66.81KB)

Email the Word version of the form to: school.admissions@cumberland.gov.uk

Document

SA1 Starting school - September 2027 (PDF, 235.71KB)

You can either return it to your child's current school or send it to us by post.

School Admissions and Appeals
Cumberland Council
PO Box 415
Carlisle
CA1 9GU

The closing date for applications is 15 January 2027.

 

When you will receive an outcome

We will email you the outcome of your application on 16 April (or the next working day) if you apply online, or post a letter to you on this date if you apply using a paper form.

Apply for a secondary school place

School places are not offered based on how early you apply, so if you submit your application form before the closing date it will be processed as on-time. It doesn't matter if it is submitted on the day the application process opens or the last day before the closing date, it will still be processed.

You cannot apply over the phone, only through the Citizen Portalor the paper application forms.

You must have three preferences. If you only put down one preference and we are unable to offer a place at that school, then your child will be offered a place at the nearest school with spaces available (this could be a school that is a number of miles from your home address or a faith based school).

Apply through the Citizen Portal

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

You have to apply for a school place in a different way. Find out what to do if your child has an educational, health and care (EHC) plan on the Cumberland SEND Local Offer website.

If you submit an application to school admissions and it is found that your child has an EHCP your application will be withdrawn and processed by the SEND Team, if you have any queries, please contact your EHCP co-ordinator.

If you can't apply online

You can either email or post us the application form.

Document

SA3 Transfer to secondary school - September 2027 (DOCX, 65.92KB)

Email the Word version of the form to: school.admissions@cumberland.gov.uk

Document

SA3 Transfer to secondary school - September 2027 (PDF, 215.02KB)

You can either return it to your child's current school or send it to us by post.

When you will receive an outcome

We will email you the outcome of your application on the 1 March (or the next working day) if you apply online, or post a letter to you on this date if you apply using a paper form.

 

To apply for a Year 7 place for your child in September 2027, you can:

School Admissions and Appeals
Cumberland Council
PO Box 415
Carlisle
CA1 9GU

 

 

 

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