Admission to School - Information for Parents 2025-2026

Moving/Changing Schools Outside the normal admissions arrangements. (Mid/In Year Transfers)

Where applications fall outside of the normal admission arrangements as seen in part 2, applications are processed in line with the following arrangements.

Changing schools requires serious consideration and should be fully discussed with the Headteacher of a child’s present school in the first instance. The parent/guardian needs to consider if moving school is in the child’s best interests. The Department for Education and Children will also provide advice if required.

Should a parent/guardian wish to transfer a child from one school to another the online admission application form must be completed.

It is not always possible to offer pupils a place in a year group at a school outside of the normal admissions round, as all available places may have already been allocated to pupils at an earlier time (i.e earlier requests to move school for the academic year/previous academic years, or during the normal admissions round).

Moving into a school’s catchment area does not guarantee a place at a school. Having a sibling being offered or admitted to a school does not guarantee a school place for other siblings.

Where there are multiple children from one household requesting a move to a school, it may not be possible to offer a school place to all of the children in the same school if some year groups are already over its admission number.

Applications received prior to a new Academic Year which the application is for will be processed in the Summer term before the Academic Year starts. All places are kept open for 1 term only. Applications received during the Academic Year should be assessed and parents/guardian notified of a decision within 15 school days or 28 calendar days (whichever is soonest) if the application has been successful or not. All applications are processed in accordance with the Welsh Government Admissions Code.
Applications for Children identified as either Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children; Statemented; or with an Individual Development Plan will need to be verified before processing.

A school place would normally be held for one school term before being withdrawn and reallocated provided the start date is within the same academic year applied for.

Applications will be considered in accordance with the admission procedures and policies detailed in this document. Should there be more applications than places available then the Authority will prioritise applications in accordance with its over-subscription criteria detailed in this document.

Should parents be unsuccessful in obtaining a place for their child at their preferred school, they will be notified by email of the reason(s) why a place has not been offered. The decision email will also state their right to appeal against that decision and the process of how to appeal and the closing date to appeal.

More information on the appeals process is detailed in this document.

Waiting lists for applications outside of the normal admissions arrangements

Applications that have been unsuccessful in gaining a place of choice are kept on the waiting list until the last school day of the academic year for which they applied. Parents must email admissions@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for their child to be placed on the waiting list.

Other year groups

Applications for admissions for pupils into year groups other than the usual year group, based on the date of birth of a pupil, will be considered on an individual basis and where applicable against the admissions over-subscription criteria outlined in this booklet. There is a specific process for considering such applications which will involve assessment by the L.A. of the individual circumstances of each case. It is not an automatic process.