Move to a different school
If your child is at primary, junior or secondary school and you want to move them to a different school in Kent, you will need to submit an In Year Admissions Form.
Unlike an admissions application when a child starts school, we cannot make this offer on your behalf. You are required to apply to the school(s) that you want your child to attend.
As there is no guarantee that your preferred school(s) will have a space available for your child, you should not remove them from their current school before you are sure they have somewhere else to go.
If you want to move your child into a school in Kent, you must complete the In-Year Admissions Form and send it to the school(s) you're are interested in.
You need to fill in a separate form for each child and for each school you want to apply to.
Complete an In Year Admissions Form (PDF, 303.3 KB).
As the availability of school spaces can change at any time, you are advised to ring schools directly to see if they have a place in your child’s year group.
If you live in Kent but want your child to move to a school in another local authority, visit the school's local authority website for more information about how their in-year admissions process works.
School transport
Parents are advised to consider transport implications before approaching any school for a place. Transport assistance is only provided where parents apply to schools in line with our transport criteria.
We are unable to advise parents of the availability of school places outside of our boundaries.
If you live near to the border, your nearest school may be in another local authority’s area. Please ensure you check with neighbouring local authorities before applying for school places, as this may impact your child’s eligibility for free school transport.
Support with moving to a different school
If you move to Kent after the Kent Test has taken place and you are looking for a Year 7 place at a grammar school, your child will still need to be assessed.
This can be arranged through the grammar school you are applying for. Until the end of the first term in the school year, all grammar schools will use the Kent Test. This will give you an assessment which is valid for any grammar school in the Kent County Council area.
If your child has not already been tested and you are looking for a year 7 place after the first term in the school year, or a place in a different year group, the grammar school will use its own assessment process.
If you apply for more than one grammar school your child will need to take a different test for each grammar school you apply for.
If you are the corporate parent (social worker or a virtual school) email saeoadmissions@kent.gov.uk to discuss moving the child to a different school.
If you live in Kent and have been provided with an EHC plan or are currently waiting to receive an EHC plan, please contact the SEND Enquiries Hub to discuss moving your child to a different school.
If you are moving into Kent and have been provided with an EHC plan from your previous local authority or in the process of an EHC needs assessment, find out what to do before you move.
If you are a member of the UK Armed Forces or a Crown Servant, with a confirmed posting to Kent, you can apply for an in year admission to a Kent school by completing an In Year Admissions Form (PDF, 303.3 KB) and sending it direct to your preferred schools. You must include an official letter that declares a relocation date and a Unit postal address or quartering area address with your application.
Where a school is able to offer a place, they will honour that place where the family do not yet have an intended address, or do not yet live in the area. If, however, the school is oversubscribed, places must be ranked in order against its published oversubscription criteria.
If a place is offered but is not taken up within a reasonable timeframe, the school will inform you that the place is no longer available, and you will need to make a new application for a school place. The school may choose to add your child’s name to their waiting list if they have one.
If you wish for your child to attend a school in Kent, and are moving to the United Kingdom, email kentinyearadmissions@kent.gov.uk to discuss your application.
Ukrainian children and young people
The Department for Education have advised all local authorities that they must process applications for Ukrainian families in the same way as all other in year applications. This means that Ukrainian children and young people will need to secure places at schools that have enough spaces, using the same advice provided on this page.
Families with more than one child needing a school place may need to travel to a school further away from their home to make sure that all siblings can attend the same school.
If we cannot offer your child a school place that is a reasonable distance from your home, we will make sure local alternatives are provided.
Ukrainian families will be assessed for eligibility for free school transport in the same way as all other families. Find out more and how to apply.
What happens after you apply
The school must not take longer than 15 school days of receiving an application to let you know whether they can offer a place, although it is expected that most should not take longer than 10 school days to reply.
If your child is not offered a place
If you applied for an in year admission but were not offered a place you can:
- make applications to other schools in your area with spaces. It is highly unlikely that popular schools will have spaces available as other children would have already secured them. We cannot make a school offer your child a place just because you would prefer them to go there. You are therefore required to select a school from those that have available spaces
- join the school's waiting list. The school will contact you if a space becomes available for your child, although there is no guarantee if or when this might happen
- make an appeal.
If there are no school places within a reasonable distance from your home, we will work with schools to make sure a local alternative is made available.