Secondary School Admissions

Key Dates

Transfer to Secondary School September 2025

Opening Date: 20 September 2024

Closing Date: 22 November 2024

Offer Date: 03 March 2025

You can apply for a secondary school place online when admissions are open.

Secondary 2025 Application Letter 

Parental Guide for School Admissions 2025-26

Use the online school applications system to:

• Create an account if you do not have one already
• Make a new application
• Continue with an application you have saved
• View your application​
• View your school place offers 

Please apply on time. You can view important dates during the application process for a school place​ below. If you miss the closing date you cannot make a late application online. You will need to complete a late application form on paper. Missing the application deadline could significantly affect your chance of getting the place you want.

Late applications will not be considered during the initial round of allocations on the publicised offer date. Many schools will be fully subscribed after the first round, so it is important to submit your application on time to have the best chance of securing a place at your preferred school. Following the first round of allocations, all late applications received will be considered along with any children on the waiting list.

School Transport

Local Education Authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school transport for pupils of statutory school age who reside beyond walking distance to the nearest suitable school.

If your child qualifies for free school transport, permission will normally be given to travel on a contract vehicle if there is one serving your area. In other cases a bus pass will be provided to travel on the service network. 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council provides free school transport for:

• Primary age pupils residing two miles or further  from their nearest designated catchment area school of type

• Secondary age pupils residing three miles or further from their nearest designated catchment area school of type

• Distances are measured by the shortest available walking route and pupils will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult if necessary

Application Process Timeline - Key dates for Secondary Admissions

St Richard Gwyn Admissions Arrangements Pilot Scheme

Following the introduction of a pilot scheme for co-ordinated admission arrangements for the transfer from primary to Secondary education September 2021, the governing body of St Richard Gwyn R.C High School have agreed to participate in the scheme for a fourth year for the 2025 application process.

In addition to Vale of Glamorgan Community Schools you can now also apply for a place in St Richard Gwyn R.C High School by using the online application service as detailed above. Please ensure that you have read and clearly understood the admission criteria for the school that you are applying for.

Stanwell School 

Stanwell School became a community maintained school from September 2024. This means that the Council will be the admission authority for the school. All applications will need to be made via the councils On-Line Admissions Process.

As a consequence of Stanwell School’s change from a Foundation School to a community maintained School from September 2024, the Council has committed to establishing transition arrangements for children in attendance at one of Stanwell's designated feeder primary schools prior to the change of status. The designated feeder schools are Albert, Evenlode, Sully and Victoria primary schools. These transition arrangements now form part of the Councils admissions policy. The Council will retain the feeder primary school link to Stanwell for those children in attendance at a designated feeder primary school during the academic year 2023/2024.  All children in the reception to year 6 age group of a designated feeder school during the 2023/2024 academic year would retain their feeder status. The transitional arrangements and feeder link do not apply to children who enter Albert, Evenlode, Sully and Victoria primary schools from September 2024 onwards. In these cases, the Councils oversubscription criteria would apply.

The transitional arrangements will cease for the year 6 transfer process to Secondary education in September 2030 when the last child eligible under transitional arrangements leaves their feeder primary school.

Check Catchment Area

You can check your catchment area by entering your postcode:

In line with current legislation, parents are required to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend, even if it is their catchment school. Pupils who reside within a defined catchment area will therefore have no automatic right to attend that school. A formal application must be made.

Failure to apply could lead to some parents/carers being denied a place for their child at their local/chosen school,  if demand exceeds the number of places available. It must be noted that catchment children will always take priority over applications from outside the catchment area.