Apply to move schools

If you're moving to Leeds or want to change schools in Leeds, you need to complete an in-year application.

How to apply

To find out which schools your child could get a place at and apply, you should follow these steps.

1. Find out which schools have places

   Schools with places can offer an immediate start. If your child is new to Leeds, you should include at least one school with spaces in your 5 preferences.       

   Check our vacancies lists to see which schools have available places.       

   Primary schools with vacancies       

   Secondary schools with vacancies        

   Compare schools on GOV.UK
   

   Use this search tool to compare primary and secondary schools. This search tool allows you to:
   

   • search for schools by postcode
     
   • check school Ofsted ratings
     
   • filter schools by religion or school type External link
     

   Find and compare schools on GOV.UK External link
   
2. Make sure you use the right address

   You must use your child's permanent address when applying. If you have moved, you must send us proof of address evidence at the same time as you apply.
   

   Warning We do checks and if an application is found to be fraudulent or misleading, we will withdraw the offer of a place, even if a child has started at a school.              

   Examples of a false address

   Your address will be considered false if you:       

   • pretend to live with a relative
     
   • rent a property close to a popular school but live somewhere else
     
   • rent a property close to a popular school when applying and move back home after your child starts at school.
     

   Moving home
   

   If you're moving into or within Leeds, you'll need to send us evidence that you've moved.           

   Parents who do not live together

   You should use the address of the parent your child lives with most of the time. We cannot resolve disputes between parents about in-year school place applications, only a family court can do this.
   

   If you live outside the UK and are planning to move to Leeds soon, you can apply for a Leeds school place. We will need to use your international address until your child has arrived in Leeds.
   

   Find out more on school admissions for children who live overseas External link.             

   As soon as you arrive in Leeds you need to send us proof that you have moved. You should send us:              

   • house ownership documents or tenancy agreement
   • a travel ticket (for example a flight boarding card) showing your child is in Leeds
     
     

   Please send evidence of your role to startingprimary@leeds.gov.uk and we can allocate a place for your child before you move to Leeds.
   

   We accept posting orders with quartering or unit addresses as proof that you are moving.
   

3. Check if you live in a school's catchment area

   Many schools give priority to children who live within their catchment or priority area.
   

   Living in a school's catchment area does not guarantee your child a place at the school, it places your child's application higher up the list of applicants.             

   Check your catchment area
   
4. Check what chance your child has of getting a place

   Each school has its own set of rules that they use to decide which children to offer a place to. This is called their admissions policy.
   

   You should read the admissions policy for each of the schools you want to apply for to check what chance your child has of getting a place.
   

   Check school admissions information
5. Apply online

   You will need to apply online.     

   For most Leeds schools, we coordinate in-year applications and send a single decision letter by email.      

   We will consider each of your requested preferences, after schools have applied their admission policy. We will offer a place at the school highest up your list that has a place available.     

   Schools that are full are unlikely to be able to offer a place, but we will add your child to their waiting list.     

   If your child does not have a current school place, we recommend adding at least one school preference where the year group has spaces to your application.     

        

   School place offers are allocated once a week in term time. If you submit an online application by midnight on a Sunday, you should be sent a decision the following week.     

   Some Leeds schools opt out of the Leeds in-year coordination scheme. When you apply on our portal, we will send your application to these schools and they will then contact you with their individual decision about offering a place.      

   Schools must contact you within 15 school days. If we or a school does not give you their decision within 15 school days, you should contact us.     

   For places at UTC Leeds, you need to make a separate application directly to the school external link.     

        

   If a school does not offer your child a place, you must be told in writing the the reasons why and how to make an appeal.     

   Your child will automatically be added to the waiting lists for your preferred schools until the end of the current school year.     

   Apply to move schools

   You may need to submit extra information to support your application for some schools. Check each school's admission policy external link.