If your child is in Year 6 this year, there’s one date you really don’t want to miss. Applications for secondary school places starting in September 2027 close at midnight on Saturday 31 October 2026. Miss it and your application is treated as late, which can make a real difference to where your child ends up.

We speak to a lot of Feltham parents at this time of year, and the same questions come up again and again. So we’ve put everything in one place.

Who needs to apply?

Any child born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 needs a Year 7 place for September 2027. If that’s your child, the application is on you, not the primary school.
You apply to the council where you live and pay council tax, even if the schools you like are in another borough. So if you live in Feltham but have your eye on a school in Spelthorne or Richmond, you still apply through Hounslow. Hounslow families apply online through the London eAdmissions website, which you can reach from the Hounslow Council admissions page.

Use all six choices

You can name up to six schools, and our honest advice is to use every one of them. Listing just one school doesn’t make it more likely you’ll get it.
Put the schools in the order you genuinely want them. Schools can’t see where they sit on your list, so there’s no advantage in trying to be tactical. The system works by offering your child the highest school on your list that they qualify for.
This matters more than people realise. If none of the schools on your list can offer your child a place, the council will give them a place at any school that still has space, and that could be somewhere you never considered and quite a distance from home. The more schools you list, the better your chances of getting one you actually want.

Read the admission rules for each school

Every school decides who gets priority when it’s oversubscribed. Usually this comes down to things like siblings already at the school and how far you live from the gate, but faith schools and some academies have their own rules. The Hounslow Council website shows how places were given out in previous years, including how far away the last child offered a place lived. It’s worth a look before you finalise your list, so you know which schools are realistic.
One thing that surprises parents is that personal circumstances like childcare or how your child would get to school can’t be taken into account. And don’t forget you’ll need to provide proof of address when you apply, so have that ready before you sit down to fill in the form.

Check if you need an extra form

Some schools, particularly faith schools and grammar schools, ask for a supplementary form on top of your main application. Forgetting it can cost your child priority. The Hounslow Council website lists which schools need one and where to find it.

A note for 11+ families

If your child has sat an 11+ test this autumn, you may not have your results before the deadline. That’s fine. You can still put grammar schools on your list, and in some cases, like the Tiffin schools, the second stage results come out after 31 October anyway. Just remember that passing the test isn’t the same as getting a place. Grammar schools are often oversubscribed, so always include some non-selective schools you’d be happy with too.

Still time for open evenings

Most schools hold their open days and evenings through September and October, and the council publishes a full schedule on its website. If you haven’t visited yet, there’s still time. Take your child with you. How they feel walking round a school tells you a lot.

What happens after you apply?

Offers are sent out on the evening of Monday 1 March 2027, and you’ll need to accept yours by Monday 15 March. If it isn’t your first choice, you can stay on the waiting list for schools you ranked higher, and you have the right to appeal. The deadline for appeals is 15 April 2027.

Late applications are only looked at after everyone who applied on time has been given a place, which is exactly why the 31 October deadline matters so much.

Your quick checklist

1. Confirm your child was born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016
2. Visit any schools you’re still unsure about (the council’s open evening schedule lists them all)
3. Read each school’s admission rules and last year’s allocation data
4. Fill in any supplementary forms needed
5. Get your proof of address ready
6. Name all six preferences, in your real order of choice
7. Submit on eAdmissions before midnight on 31 October and save your confirmation

Dates and rules can change, so always double-check the details on the Hounslow Council website before you submit. If you have questions, the council’s School Admissions Team can be reached on 020 8583 2711.

Getting ready for Year 7

Choosing a school is one part of the move. Getting your child ready for it is the other. Year 6 is a big year, with SATs in May and a noticeable step up in Maths and English once Year 7 starts. Children who arrive at secondary school feeling confident tend to settle in far more quickly.

At Feltham Tuition, we run small, friendly Sunday classes in Maths, English and Science on Feltham High Street, with 11+ preparation too. Our tutors are fully qualified and DBS checked, and lessons start from £10 an hour. If you’d like to see where your child is right now, book a free assessment by calling 07508 660 216 or visiting felthamtuition.co.uk. We’re at 53–55 High St, Feltham TW13 4AB.

Source: Hounslow Council, Apply for a new Year 7 secondary place, checked 28 September 2026.