Admission to School - Information for Parents 2026-2027
In this section
- Introduction
- SECTION A - Admissions to Carmarthenshire Schools
- When to Apply
- At what age can children start Primary school?
- Admission to secondary schools and sixth form
- Choosing a School and Catchment Areas
- How to Apply
- Awarding Places – Oversubscription Criteria
- Moving / Changing Schools outside the normal admissions arrangements (Mid/in Year Transfers)
- Notification of Offer of a Place at a School
- Appeals Regarding Admission of Pupils to Community / Voluntary Controlled Primary or Secondary Schools
- Admission to Voluntary Aided Schools
- SECTION B - Information on Education and Learning
- Learning Experiences
- The Teaching of Welsh and English in Carmarthenshire Schools
- Public Examinations
- Exclusion of Pupils
- School Activities
- School Leaving Date
- School Governing Bodies
- SECTION C – Services to Pupils
- Carmarthenshire County Council – School Transport Policy
- School Meals & School Essentials Grant
- Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- School Safeguarding and Attendance Team
- Trust Funds
- The Careers Service
- Carmarthenshire Family Information Service
- The Childcare Offer
- Health & Well-being Promoting Schools Programme
- Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education
- SECTION D – Schools and Pupil Summary
- SECTION E - Carmarthenshire Schools: Nursery Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Community, Voluntary Controlled and Voluntary Aided Primary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Secondary Schools and Voluntary Aided Secondary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Special Schools
Introduction
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to Carmarthenshire, where every child and young person’s learning journey is our shared priority. As a local authority we are proud to offer a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every learner is encouraged to flourish, explore their interests, and reach their full potential.
Our vision as an Education Service is that we will support all of our learners ensuring that they are happy, safe, thriving, and fulfilling their personal, social and learning potential.
We work diligently to provide the highest possible quality education in order to develop-
- Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives.
- Healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
- Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work.
- Ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world.
Estyn inspected our Education Services in July 2023. The comprehensive report, which is available on the Estyn Website identified a range of strengths and confirmed that we provide high quality services to meet the needs of Carmarthenshire’s learners. The importance and appropriateness of our 10-year Strategy (Education Sir Gâr 2022-2032) to establish sustainable education services, giving very robust consideration to the principles set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, was also commended.
Our commitment is to provide an engaging curriculum that reflects Carmarthenshire and Wales’s rich culture, language, and heritage while fostering global awareness and critical thinking. We strive to develop confident, curious, and compassionate learners who are well-prepared for the future.
Our aim is that all learners are given opportunities to become bilingual or multilingual. The Welsh language belongs to us all and our vision is to further expand bilingual education within Carmarthenshire enabling our learners to become bilingual citizens and to be better equipped for employment opportunities in the future. This is in line with the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 which aims to strengthen the role of the Welsh language in education and give children and young people a better chance to become Welsh speakers.
I hope this document will be of help to parents/carers of children beginning school for the first time, and for parents/carers of children moving into the area. We appreciate that choosing a school is a big decision and this guidance aims to support you in that process and includes:
- general information on our schools
- advice on how and when you need to make an application for a school place.
- the process of awarding places and
- a range of policies such as school transport which may be relevant to your circumstances.
Before finalising your choice, we advise you to contact and visit the schools in your area to discuss with them the provision available and your individual circumstances. Information will also be available on the individual school websites and in their prospectuses.
We believe education is a partnership between the school, families, and the wider community. Together, we can ensure your child not only achieves academic success but also grows socially, emotionally, and personally.
Please be aware that admission to your preferred school isn’t guaranteed. There are strict limits on the number of pupils that can be admitted to each school. Should there be more applications than places available, the applications received by the closing date must legally be processed first with the over-subscription criteria, as detailed in this booklet, used to priorities the award of the places available. To avoid disappointment and maximize the chance of obtaining a place at your preferred school, please ensure you submit your application by the specified closing date.
Thank you for considering a Carmarthenshire school for your child's education. We look forward to welcoming your child to one of our schools and wish them every success.
Owain Lloyd - Director of Education, Children and Family Services
