Admissions
When Children Can Start Primary School
Children can start reception year at a primary school from the September after their fourth birthday. However, by law children don’t have to start school until the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.
Earlier starts will be considered in very exceptional cases or circumstances. Parents must provide evidence of an exceptional or substantial need for this to happen.
Blackpool Primary School Admissions 2026
| Monday 1 September 2025 | Parents can access the online application or obtain an application pack from Blackpool primary schools or the schools admissions team |
| By Thursday 15 January 2026 | Online applications must be submitted before midnight. Paper applications must be returned to the school admissions team by this date. Do not wait until the final day to submit your application in case of computer failure or a delay in postal services. |
| On Thursday 16 April 2026 | If you have applied online, you will receive an email confirming the allocated school. The online system will go live on the morning of Thursday 16 April 2026. If you have applied on a paper application, the letter will be posted on Wednesday 15 April 2026. The letter may arrive at various times depending on the postal service in your area. If you are not satisfied with the allocated school, you may request an appeal form from the school admissions team, or from the school direct if you are appealing for a voluntary aided school. |
Blackpool Primary School Appeals 2026
| By the end of May 2026 | Appeals should be returned in order to be heard in the first round of appeals. Later appeals can be submitted but will not be heard until later in the year |
| June/July 2026 | First appeals heard by Independent Appeal Panels. |
| September 2026 | Pupils start primary school. |
Blackpool Secondary School Appeals 2026
| On Monday 2 March 2026 |
If you have applied online, you will receive an email confirming the allocated school. The online system will go live on the Monday 2 March 2026. If you have applied on a paper application, you will receive a letter in the post - this will be posted on Friday 27 February 2026. The letter may arrive at various times depending on the postal service in your area. If you are not satisfied with the allocated school, you may request an appeal form from the school admissions team, or from the school direct if you are appealing for a voluntary aided school. You will need to contact an academy to establish their appeal arrangements. |
| By mid April 2026 | Appeal forms should be returned in order to be heard in the first round of appeals. Later appeals can be submitted but will not be heard until later in the year. |
| June 2026 | First appeals heard by the independent appeal panels. |
| September 2026 | Pupils start secondary school. |
Applying for a Place
To apply for a reception place for admission in September 2026, you can apply online by following this link.
You can also obtain a paper application form by contacting Blackpool Council at the following email address: schoolaccess@blackpool.gov.uk or by telephone 01253 476637.
For further information on the whole admission process, visit the Blackpool Council School Admissions website.
You must apply using the link below if you live in Wyre and Fylde ( if you pay your council tax to Wyre or receive housing benefit from Wyre).
Applications for school places for September 2026 are now open as of 1 September 2025.
On-line is now the main means of applying for school and academy places (95%+ for September 2021 intakes). Where there are reasons for a paper application being required parents may contact the Area Pupil Access Team or the Central Team direct.
Pupil Access (North) Lancaster, Morecambe, Wyre and Fylde – James, Stacey-Jane or Phil telephone 01524 581148 (Primary /Secondary).
For further information on the whole admission process, visit the Lancashire County Council School Admissions website.
Usual Starting Dates
| Child born between | Starts primary school | Apply between |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021 | September 2025 | September 2024 – January 2025 |
| 1 September 2021 – 31 August 2022 | September 2026 | September 2025 – January 2026 |
| 1 September 2022 – 31 August 2023 | September 2027 | September 2026 – January 2027 |
| 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024 | September 2028 | September 2027 – January 2028 |
Important Information
Children who attend a nursery that is attached to a school or academy do not automatically move into reception.
Attendance at a nursery is not taken into consideration when places in the reception classes are being allocating.
You can find the criteria that is used for allocating places in reception classes in our Admissions Policy.
If you require a paper copy of the Admission Policy; please contact the school office on 01253 855215 and we shall provide this free of charge.