Admission to primary education 2024-2025 and junior transfer September 2024
If you're moving to Derbyshire, or want to apply for your child to move schools, you can find out how to change schools.
School preference
Parents have a legal right to express a preference for which school they want their child to attend.
This is not the same as being able to choose, but means that if a parent expresses a preference for a particular school, and there are places available, then a place should be offered at that school.
However, in law there is no automatic right to place a child in any particular school, and it may not be possible to offer a place at a preferred school.
Children with education health and care plans (EHCP)
If your child has an education health and care plan (EHCP) you should contact the SEN team, email cs.sendadmin@derbyshire.gov.uk as their transfer is dealt with through their education health and care plan.
You should not complete the application form on this page.
Non-Derbyshire residents should contact their home council.
Parental agreement
We expect parents to consult with each other and agree on the school or schools for which they wish to express a preference. We do not investigate whether applications have been agreed, or resolve disagreements between parents.
Where the child spends time at 2 different addresses with their parents and each parent makes an application, we'll process the preferences of the parent who cares for the child for the greater part of the school week (where the child normally sleeps between Monday evening and Friday morning).
Where we are unable to determine the home address and where there is no parental agreement or court order, we will be unable to process the application further until the matter has been resolved.
We encourage parents to resolve any disagreements quickly as delay may affect the availability of places at preferred schools.
Once we have offered a school place, any disagreement on the child's school placement is for the parents to resolve between themselves.
Normal area / local area school
You can get information on the normal area / local area school for your home address:
Home to school transport
Consider how your child will travel to school. You can find out more about school transport in the parents' guide to primary admissions.
Admission to primary education 2025-2026 and junior transfer September 2025
If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 your child will be eligible to start school in September 2025.
If your child was born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 and is in their final year at infant school they'll transfer to junior school in September 2025.
You'll be able to apply from 9am on 11 November 2024.
The application process is quick and easy and you can also find information about how to choose a school in our parents guide to primary admissions.
Appeals
If you cannot get a place for your child in your preferred school you can make a school admission appeal.