School admissions: phase transfers
The school admissions process starts almost two years before children join a school.
Find out more on How admissions arrangements are set | East Sussex County Council.
Phase transfers: What to do and when
Schools should assist parents with applying online or printing information or forms.
Most parents will Apply for a school place | East Sussex County Council.
Schools can view applications on the Schools Access Module (SAM).
See the guide for school actions for:
- Infant schools [112.0 KB] [pdf]
- Junior schools [111.7 KB] [pdf]
- Primary schools [111.4 KB] [pdf]
- Secondary schools [121.3 KB] [pdf]
Paper applications
Apply for a school place 2026 to 2027 | East Sussex County Council includes a copy of the application form.
If you or the applicant need help, or for us to post a form, email admissions@eastsussex.gov.uk .
If you receive a paper application, stamp this with the arrival date, scan it and email it to us.
The closing dates for applications for 2026 to 2027 are:
- 31 October 2025 - Secondary
- 15 January 2026 - Primary and Junior
Read East Sussex County Council's guidance on: Educating children out of year group [67.7 KB] [docx]
All schools - siblings and children of staff
Check sibling claims in SAM and verify applications under the ‘children of staff’ category. Indicate whether they qualify by:
- 9 January 2026 - Secondary
- 13 March 2026 - Primary and junior
For more information about who qualifies, read Final arrangements for 2025-26 | East Sussex County Council
Primary schools
Ensure that applications for the children in your Year 6 age group have been submitted. If not, you will need to remind parents to apply before the closing date. You may wish to send a reminder by newsletter, SMS or an e-leaflet.
Late applications will be accepted, but only considered after all applications which arrived on time.
If you believe there are exceptional reasons why an application was late, please inform us as soon as possible. We will not be able to do anything about this after allocation.
Children with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)
These children will receive details direct from the local authority. If you are proposing to refer other children for assessment, please let us know.
Offer of places
Emails and letters are sent to parents and carers on the national offer days.
Schools can view their pupil’s allocations on SAM and mark if a place has been accepted or refused.
Please send admission forms to your allocated pupils within 10 school days.
All offers must come from the local authority until the end of coordination on 1 September.
If you are consulted to take additional children with an EHCP after allocation day, let us know straight away.
Please do not support appeals for your own or other schools.
Key dates for admissions 2026 to 2027
Secondary schools
- 12 September 2025
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Applications open
- 31 October 2025
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Applications close
- 9 January 2026
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Deadline for checking sibling claims and children of staff
- 3 March 2026
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National offer day
Primary and junior schools
- 12 September 2025
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Applications open
- 15 January 2026
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Applications close
- 13 March 2026
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Deadline for checking sibling claims and children of staff
- 16 April 2026
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National offer day
Admissions guidance
Find out more about the coordinated admission schemes:
Contact the Admissions Team
If you have any queries:
Email: admissions@eastsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 330 9472 between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.
Email Fair Access Protocol queries to Fair.AccessProtocol@eastsussex.gov.uk
