School Admissions

Starting school can be an extremely stressful and daunting experience. The pages below will explain the processes and procedures you need to follow in order to get your child admitted to a school for the first time or move on to a new school in Poole.

There are many questions that parents often ask and we hope we have provided you with the answers to these using content that it is both informative and easy to understand.

If you feel there is something you need to know that is not made clear, do not hesitate to contact us using the details at the top right corner of this page. 

There are two types of admission to a school:

1.'In-year admissions', these can be either when a child starts:

• in a school part way through the school year
• in September but not in the normal year of entry for that school

2. Admissions in September to the normal year of entry at a school. The 'normal year of entry' is the year group when children start at that type of school. The normal year of entry in Poole's maintained schools are:

• First schools - the Reception year
• Combined schools - the Reception year
• Primary school - the Reception Year
• Middle schools - Year 4 (except Broadstone Middle which is Year 5)
• Secondary schools - Year 8 (except Corfe Hills which is Year 9)

Maintained schools are those which come under the control of ourselves. They do not include independent or private schools.

Please decide which type of admission you are seeking, and choose the appropriate link for your particular circumstances.