Find out about local schools before you apply
In Somerset, you may and are encouraged to choose 3 preferences in ranked order. Please visit the Find a school page to find schools in your local area.
The best way to find out more about schools is to visit them. Contact the school directly for more information. You can also:
- visit the school website
- attend the open day or evenings
- look at the school’s performance tables
- get a copy of the school’s most recent OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education) inspection report on the OFSTED website
- view the published GCSE examination results for secondary or upper schools for the summer of 2024. You can find this on the Department for Education website
- view how places were allocated in previous years
SEND information - part of our Local Offer
Supporting special educational needs and/or disabilities
Every school must share information on their website. To help parent carers understand:
- What kinds of additional needs the school helps with.
- How they identify and support children with SEND.
- How they include parent carers in making decisions.
Each school will also talk about how they support behaviour, feelings, and bullying.
Look for these documents to find out more:
- Special Educational Needs information report (which may include the SEND policy)
- Accessibility plan
- Behaviour policy (which may include the bullying policy)
School catchment
Check the catchment area of the school you are interested in. If you live in Somerset, you can find out if your address is in the (catchment) area for a Somerset school by visiting our School catchment page.
Applying for a school outside Somerset
Applications must be made to your home local authority regardless of where the school is situated. If you live in Somerset, please apply online and choose your preferred schools by 31 October 2024.
Please note that the published admission arrangements for another county may be different from those in Somerset. You must make sure you fully understand the published admission arrangements and over-subscription criteria applying to the school concerned before you make your application and to find out if you need to complete a SIF.
Useful contacts
Bath and North East Somerset
Admissions and Transport Unit
Phone: 01225 394312
Email: admissionstransport@bathnes.gov.uk
Bath and North East Somerset website
Devon
School Admissions Team
Phone: 0345 155 1019
Email: admissions@devon.gov.uk
Devon website
North Somerset
Admissions Team
Phone: 01275 884078 or 01275 884014
Email: admissions@n-somerset.gov.uk
North Somerset website
Dorset
School Admissions Team
Phone: 01305 221060
Email: admissions@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Dorset website
Wiltshire Council
School Admissions Team
Phone: 01225 713010
Email: admissions@wiltshire.gov.uk
Wiltshire Council website
All-through schools
An all-through school covers Reception through to the end of Year 11. This is primary and secondary phases combined.
Parents who have children on roll at an all-through school do not need to make a separate secondary school application for the same school.
However, if your child is not currently on roll at an all-through school and you would like to apply for the secondary phase, you must make an application by the published deadline.