Starting Primary Education
Co-ordinated admission arrangements
All local authorities are required by regulations, as described in the School Admissions Regulations 2012, to have co-ordinated admissions for all schools within its area for each academic year.
Co-ordination establishes a mechanism that ensures that, as far as practical, every child living in a local authority area who has applied in the normal admissions round receives one and only one offer of a school place on the same day.
The Local Authority co-ordinates the admission arrangements for all schools within its area in the normal admissions round.
This includes receiving all application forms for all community, voluntary aided and academy schools, then writing to parents/carers informing them which school place has been allocated.
Applications for reception places 2026/27
Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 are eligible to start school in Reception in September 2026.
Parents/carers have a right to express a preference for a primary school(s) they prefer but there is no guarantee that a place can be allocated at one of them.
Do you live in the Borough of Darlington?
YES - Then you must apply on the Darlington Primary Application Form (PSA). No matter which primary schools you are interested in, whether located in the Borough of Darlington or in another local authority area.
NO - If you don't live in Darlington then you must apply on the application form supplied by the local authority area that you live in.
How to apply
primary guide for parents 2026 2027.pdf
The online portal opens on 12 September 2025
The easiest way to apply is completing the online application form.
If you do not have access to the internet, then an application form can be obtained from the School Admissions Team.
Paper forms should be returned to the School Admissions Team no later than 15 January 2026.
Applications received after this date (late applications) will only be considered in exceptional circumstances (for example: families who have moved into the area after the closing date). These applications will be considered up to and including 17 January 2026.
For details on how to complete the Primary Application:
primary guide for parents 2026 2027.pdf