Most families start looking too late. The result is rushed open days, a shortlist built on hearsay, and an application that feels like guesswork.
The good news: you do not need years of research. You need the right sequence. If you start early enough to visit schools and understand admissions rules, you can make a calmer decision and build strong backup options.
Key takeaways
- Start early enough to visit schools with a shortlist and clear questions.
- Admissions rules and evidence requirements matter as much as school quality.
- Have a plan for offer day outcomes before you apply.
In this guide
Know your local authority timeline
Admissions timelines can vary by local authority, but deadlines are predictable. Work backwards from your application deadline and plan your visits and shortlisting before open day season ends.
If you are applying for Reception or Year 7, treat your calendar like a project plan: research, visits, decision, application, then a plan for offer day outcomes.
- Find your local authority admissions page and save the key dates.
- Add reminders for open days, application deadline, and offer day.
Shortlist before you visit
Open days are most useful when you arrive with a shortlist and specific questions. If you visit without data or context, you will remember the building more than the teaching.
Use Ofsted, performance data, attendance, and travel time to narrow down to a manageable set (for most families: 5 to 10 schools).
Collect admissions evidence early
Some admissions criteria require evidence (for example: proof of address, faith practice, medical/social need). Evidence can take time to gather and policies can be strict.
Do not assume a rental or move automatically counts. Always read proof-of-address rules for your target schools and local authority.
Plan for offer day, waiting lists, and appeals
Even with good planning, you may not get your first choice. The difference between a good and bad outcome is how fast and organised you are after offers are released.
Know the process for joining waiting lists and making appeals. Keep notes and evidence so you can act quickly if needed.
A simple plan you can follow
Use this as a lightweight workflow as you shortlist, visit, and decide.
- Find your local authority admissions dates and add them to your calendar.
- Build a shortlist using travel time + Ofsted + performance measures.
- Attend open days with a question list and take notes consistently.
- Check admissions evidence rules and gather documents early.
- Submit a balanced preference list with realistic backups.
Practical templates
Use these lists as prompts on open days and when comparing schools side-by-side.
- Deadlines saved with reminders.
- Shortlist created and reviewed after visits.
- Proof-of-address rules checked for target schools.
- Transport plan validated for the daily routine.
- Backup schools identified and visited.
- Waiting list and appeal steps understood.
- How is distance measured (straight line, route, gate-to-gate)?
- What counts as proof of address and what time period is required?
- Has the admissions policy changed recently?
- How do waiting lists work and how often are they updated?
- How does the school support transition into Reception/Year 7?
- Starting after open day season has ended.
- Assuming admissions rules are identical across nearby schools.
- Moving or renting without confirming proof-of-address requirements.
- Listing only oversubscribed schools without realistic backups.
Use this with Schoolboard
Turn the guide into a shortlist you can compare on the map and school pages.
- Use the map to explore schools around your postcode and candidate move areas.
- Save a shortlist early and refine it after visits.
- Use filters to identify strong backup schools within a wider radius.