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  1. Home
  2. Children and families
  3. Schools
  4. Apply for a school place
  5. Apply for a secondary school place for September 2026
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Apply for a secondary school place

If your child is due to start secondary school, you must apply online

  1. Before you apply
  2. Choosing the right school for your child
  1. How to apply
  2. Dates and deadlines

Dates and deadlines

You can apply from 1 September 2025, and you must apply by the deadline, 31 October 2025. We recommend you apply by 24 October 2025, just in case there are any problems with getting online or logging into the site.

  • 28 November 2025: this is your deadline to submit a social medical application
  • 2 March 2026: you’ll get an offer by email in the evening
  • 16 March 2026: this is your deadline to accept (or turn down) your school place
  • 13 April 2025: you must send in any appeals for an Islington community school by this date. You can appeal even if you’ve accepted the school place offered.
  • 1 May to 12 June 2025: Test registration window for Dame Alice Owen's School assessment.
  • 12 May to 30 June 2025 (12noon): Online registration window for Governors' aptitude test at St Mary Magdalene Academy.

Late applications

If we get your application after 31 October 2025 then your application will be marked as late. This means that it will not be considered until we have allocated school places for all applications received on time. This could reduce your chances of getting a place at the school you want.

If there are exceptional reasons why it was not possible to make your application by the deadline, please email us at admissions@islington.gov.uk. Make sure to attach any letters or other documents that help explain and support your reason.

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Data protection: We will handle your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the council’s Fair Processing Notice.