You apply through Birmingham City Council’s school admissions process online, and the exact route depends on whether you’re applying for primary, infant-to-junior, or secondary school. Birmingham asks for ranked preferences, and for some school types you’ll also need to meet the relevant deadline and, where required, send any supplementary information directly to the school.
| School place type | How to apply | Deadline / key dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary school / reception | Apply online and list three different primary schools in order of preference | Applications open on 1 October and close on 15 January for entry in September of the same year | Attendance at nursery doesn’t give automatic priority. If you need to submit supporting information for a school, send it directly to that school as well as completing the online application. |
| Infant to junior transfer | Apply online and list three different junior schools in order of preference | Applications open on 1 October 2025 at 9.00am and close on 15 January 2026 at 11:59pm | If your child attends a linked infant school, include that junior school in your preferences. Late applications are processed after 16 April 2026. |
| Secondary school | Apply through your local authority and complete the online application | Deadline is 31 October for a place starting the following September | Birmingham says to apply through your local authority even if the secondary school is linked to your child’s current primary school. Councils send secondary offer notifications on 1 March. |
If you’re applying for a primary place, Birmingham’s online application for September 2026 opened at 9:00am on 1 October 2025 and late applications were processed after 16 April 2026. For secondary places, Birmingham also says some schools use supplementary information forms, so it’s worth making sure those are sent in directly where needed.