Last updated:
17th April 2025
Starting and applying for secondary school - age 11
The application process
Starting secondary school is an important stage in your child’s life. Before making an application, we recommend that you read the parent’s guide to starting secondary school (PDF) and the co-ordinated admissions scheme. This contains all statutory information you need to know before applying for a school place.
If you live in the Wokingham Borough, you should apply to us for a secondary school place, even if you want to apply for a school in another local authority area.
Parents/carers will be expected to have named all 4 nearest schools on their application, which may include schools in neighbouring Boroughs. Your nearest school may not be your catchment or designated area school.
- Check your local council area on the GOV.UK website if you're not sure which local authority area you should apply to.
- Search for schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts on the GOV.UK website to find your nearest schools.
- School catchment areas are used by most schools in their admission policy as one of their oversubscription criteria. Your home address may not be in the designated area of the school nearest to your house. It is important that you check which catchment areas include your home address before submitting your application, using our Schools designated areas map tool.
- If you choose to apply for a place that is not the nearest school and instead apply for another preferred school, then it is likely that your child will have no transport entitlement to that preferred school. Please refer to the Travel assistance to school and college web page for more information.
- If you are applying for Grammar schools, you may want to consider including local authority maintained or academy/free schools on your application.
- If you want to apply to a private school, you will need to apply to the school directly.
On time applications submitted by 31 October
The application process commences 12 September 2024 and continues until 31 August 2025.
For an application to be considered on time it must be submitted between
12 September to 31 October 2024.
Applications should be made via the Citizens Portal online school admissions website before 31 October 2024. You will not be able to apply via Citizens Portal after this date.
If you are unable to apply using the Citizens Portal, paper applications can be requested by contacting schooladmissions@wokingham.gov.uk. Paper application forms must also be received by the 31 October 2024 deadline.
Paper application forms and online applications are treated the same and are not treated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Late applications
If you are applying for a secondary school place after 31 October 2024 and
up to 31 August 2025, you will need to make a late application.
To make a late application download and complete one of the forms below and return it to schooladmissions@wokingham.gov.uk.
You will also need to provide the reasons for your application being submitted after the national deadline.
Late applications will be considered after National Offer Day.
How are places allocated
If a school does not have enough places for everyone who applies, the admission rules for that school will be used to decide who will get a place. Every school has a set of rules, known as the 'admissions arrangements' or ' oversubscription' criteria.
Schools that are oversubscribed will follow these rules when allocating places.
All secondary schools in Wokingham set their own admissions criteria. We recommend parents read the schools admissions arrangement document, so they understand how each school considers applications.
Wokingham schools
- Bohunt School, Sheerlands Road, Arborfield, Wokingham, RG2 9GB. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 16.)
- The Bulmershe School, Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, RG5 3EU. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18.) The Bulmershe
- The Emmbrook School, Emmbrook Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 1JP. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18.)
- The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane, Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 5NE. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18.)
- The Holt School, Holt Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 1EE. (A state school for girls aged from 11 to 18.)
- Maiden Erlegh School, Silverdale Road, Earley, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 7HS. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18.)
- Oakbank School, Hyde End Lane, Ryeish Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 1ER. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 16.)
- The Piggott School, Twyford Road, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8DS (A state school for boys and girls aged from 4 to 18 - through a school based across 2 sites.)
- St Crispin's School, London Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1SS. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18)
- Waingels College, Waingels Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, RG5 4RF. (A state school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18.)
Schools in other boroughs
If you've selected a school in another borough, you should check to make sure if there are any extra forms you need to complete. You can find our neighbouring boroughs' school admissions websites below:
