About in-year applications
If your child needs a school place outside the usual primary or secondary entry points, the in-year admissions process applies.
For more information, read our In-year School Admissions Protocol 2024.
In-year fair access
Hillingdon's Fair Access Protocol (FAP) is required by the School Admissions Code 2021. The purpose of a FAP is to ensure that vulnerable children, and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible, minimising the time a child is out of school.
This protocol applies equally to all schools and academies, and reflects the Fair Access Protocol guidance issued by the Department for Education in August 2021.
For more information read Hillingdon Fair Access Protocol 2025/26.
Looking for school places
Applying for a school place outside the regular points of admission is much more complicated than applying for a place at the start of primary or secondary school, when there is a pan-London system for all state schools.
The London Councils (2023) Seeking School Places report explores the cohorts of children seeking school places in-year, the challenges in the system, and the levers local authorities need to ensure that all children and young people in their area have fair and timely access to school places.
Waiting list positions for community primary schools
We routinely clear all community primary school waiting lists at the end of the summer term.
If you have applied just before or during the summer break, up-to-date online waiting list positions for the new academic year will be available from September.
To check your waiting list positions for academies, foundation, voluntary aided or free schools (including all secondary schools), contact the school directly.