If your child was born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016, you can now apply for them to start secondary school in September 2027.
The closing date for applications is 31 October 2026.
You must apply:
- even if your child has a sibling at your preferred school
- through us if you want to apply to an out of borough school
- through your local authority if you live outside Waltham Forest
The Waltham Forest SEND team will contact you if your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
If you are applying for another year group, see our in-year admissions page.
Choosing a secondary school
You can choose up to six preferences. We recommend using all six.
Be realistic when making your six preferences. Popular schools may be oversubscribed and have cut-off distances.
To find out more about a school, you can:
- visit the school open evenings
- check the school websites
- read Ofsted reports and performance tables
Read the Starting Secondary School 2027 brochure (PDF). It has everything you need to know.
- section 3 (pages 16 to 49) lists all secondary schools in Waltham Forest
- visit the school’s website for more details
- each school has its own admissions criteria:
- community school criteria are on pages 12 to 13
- other schools’ criteria are in Section 3 (pages 16 to 49)
Priority school places
Some children may get priority for a school place, for example, if they have:
- a brother or sister at the school
- medical or social needs which require them to attend a specific school
- looked after or previously looked after status
To apply under one of these priority groups, you must provide supporting evidence by the application deadline.