Starting junior school - age 7

When you make an application to us you can list up to 4 schools, in order of preference. You can list both junior and primary schools as your preferences 

• Every infant school has a junior school which it's linked to. This school is given the highest priority and we recommend you include this as one of your choices.
• It's important to remember that if your child attends an infant school, there is no automatic transfer to the linked junior school - you still need to apply.
• You can use our schools designated areas map to find out which designated or "catchment" area you live in
• You can see a list of state schools in the parent's guide to starting junior school (PDF document).

• You can list any junior or primary state school as one of your preferences, even if it isn't in our borough.
• If you want to apply for a primary school you'll need to complete an in-year application. 
• If you want to apply to a private school you will need to apply to the school directly.

Admission policies and arrangements

Every school follows a set of rules when they allocate school places known as admission arrangements.

Go to the admission arrangements 2021 to 2022 web page to find out more. 

Schools performance

You can find out how each school is performing on our schools performance web page.

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 below:

• Bracknell
• Hampshire
• Oxfordshire
• Reading
• Slough
• Surrey
• Windsor and Maidenhead
• West Berkshire

If you applied online on the Citizen's Portal

We can't give out information about which school you've been allocated over the phone.

On 16 April 2021 you'll be able to see which school place you've been offered by  logging into the online school admissions website.

Emails will be sent out on 16 April 2021. If you opted not to receive an email, a letter will be posted to you on 16 April 2021.

If you applied using a paper form

If you applied using a paper application you'll be sent your offer letter by first class post on 16 April 2021.

Accepting the place

Go to the accept or decline a school place web page to accept or decline the place you've been offered. 

You'll need to accept or decline by 4 May 2021. 

If you are not happy with the place offered, we recommend that you accept the place and remain on the waiting list for higher preferred schools - doing so does not change your chance of gaining a place and you still have the right of appeal. Any requests for changes have to be made in writing.

Waiting lists

If you're not offered the school you listed as your first preference you'll automatically be added to the waiting list for any schools you listed as a higher preference.

If we can offer you a place from the waiting list at a school you listed as a higher preference we'll allocate this school to you. 

We'll remove the place we originally offered you.

We won't contact you in advance of doing this.

Waiting list information isn't available until after 4 May 2021.

Appeals

If you haven't been offered the school you wanted, you can appeal the decision. Appeals have to be received by us by 18 May 2021.

Go to the school appeals page to find out more.

Moving to a primary school

If you would like your child to move to a primary school you'll need to complete an in-year application. 

If you listed a junior school as a preference, we will usually offer you a place if there's one available. It's recommended you accept the place as it will guarantee your child a place for year 3. 

You can find out what support each school provides for children with additional needs by visiting our Local Offer pages.

If you need childcare before or after school, you can find out if your school has a before and after school club in our directory.

You can also use a childminder. You can use our directory to find out which childminders drop off and pick up from which school.

• 13 November 2020: Online admissions open
• 15 January 2021: Deadline for applications and supporting information
• 16 April 2021: Offer day, letters posted first class, results can be viewed if applied online
• 4 May 2021: Deadline to accept offer of school place and waiting list information available
• 18 May 2021: Closing date for receipt of appeals to be heard together

Junior school places are allocated taking into account:

• Published admission arrangements

• The number of places available at each school

You can see details of how school places were allocated, below:

• Summary of allocation at Wokingham Borough junior schools 2021 (PDF document)  

• History of allocations at Wokingham Borough junior schools 2021 (PDF document)