Starting School
Apply now for a primary school place – deadline 15 January 2025
You can apply for a primary school place in County Durham for your child for September 2025 now.
Who is eligible to start school in September 2025?
- Children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 will be eligible to start in reception year.
- Children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 are eligible to transfer from infant to junior schools.
How to apply for a place
- Parent Portal – Create a new account – if you have not used the Parent Portal before, you will need to create a new account.
- Parent Portal – Log in with an existing account – you can log in with your existing account if you have registered previously to partially complete or submit an application (for example, you might have used the portal to apply previously for a school place or for a 2 year old Play and Learn place). Please note that this is a new portal – account and child details are still available, however applications from previous years will not be available.
Applications will close on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
All admissions to St. John’s Primary School are co-ordinated by Durham County Council, please visit the Durham County Council website for information regarding the School Admissions. To appeal against an admission decision visit: School admissions-appeals.
A copy of our School Admissions Policy can also be found in the School Policy section of this website.
Timetable of Important Admission Dates
Parents Guide to School Admissions and Application Form are made available to parents – Monday 2nd September 2024.
Closing date for return of forms to the LA – Wednesday 15 January 2025.
Offer of a place
The offer of a school place will be made on Wednesday 16 April 2025.
Acceptance of place to be returned to County Hall. If you applied online your child’s offer of a school place will be emailed to you. If you applied using a written application form a letter informing you of a school place offered will be sent to your home address. In the event of your child not being offered a place, please contact the school for further information about the appeals process. Notice of Appeal 24-25
School Admissions – Special Educational Needs (SEND)
We are committed to meeting the needs of all children including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We would ask parents to discuss the identified needs with the school prior to starting so that appropriate intervention and support can be planned and implemented. Advice from the LA or other agencies may be requested to ensure any school can meet any needs appropriately.
Full details of the admission arrangements can be found in the Primary and Secondary Admissions brochure produced by Durham County Council. http://www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of SEN
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (or Statement of Special Education Needs) follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.
Key Policies
Admissions and Appeals Policy and Guidelines 2026
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