Parents are being urged not to miss the deadline to apply for their child’s secondary school place after 331 families submitted their applications late last year.
This warning has been triggered after only half of last year’s late applicants (51%) were offered a place at their first-choice school, compared with 87% of those who applied on time.
While there is no guarantee that any applicant will be offered a place at their preferred secondary school and a number of other factors are taken into account, completing an application on time is an important part of the admissions process.
This is because late applications are not processed until after National Offer Day (1 March 2027), the day when families discover which school their child will attend. Schools do not reserve places for late applications either, meaning they may already be full before a late application is considered.
Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said:
"Choosing the right secondary school for a child is one of the most important decisions families make and it's not something to be left until the last minute.
“As a parent who has gone through the process already, I know myself how much thought goes into making these preferences as ultimately this is the school that will shape your child’s educational journey and where they will sit their GCSEs.
“There is time left to decide which school is best for your child and to help you, there are upcoming open evenings at local schools to inform your decision. Don’t leave it too late as it is important you find the right place for your child's future.”
Families have until Saturday, 31 October 2026 to submit a secondary school application through Rochdale Borough Council’s online parent portal.
Parents are advised to make 5 preferences as part of their application and to avoid duplicating or selecting only one preference as this will not increase their chances of obtaining a place at any school.
Before making any decision, families are encouraged to gather as much information on their preferred schools as they can.
This could include reading the respective admissions criteria, prospectus and Ofsted report of each school.
It could also include attending any upcoming open evenings. A number of local schools are hosting open events in the coming weeks, with a full list below.
- Dixons Middleton Academy: 5pm–8pm on Thursday, 8 October 2026
- Edgar Wood Academy: 5pm–8pm on Wednesday, 16 September 2026
- Falinge Park High School: 5pm–7.30pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Hollingworth Academy: 5.30pm–7.30pm on Wednesday, 7 October 2026
- Holy Family RC and CE College: 4.30pm–7.30pm on Thursday, 1 October 2026
- Kingsway Park High School: 5pm–7pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Matthew Moss High School: 5pm–8pm on Thursday, 17 September 2026
- Newhouse Academy: 5.30pm–8pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Oulder Hill Leadership Academy: 4pm–7pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
- St Anne’s CE Academy: 5.30pm–8pm on Thursday, 17 September 2026
- St Cuthbert’s RC High School: 4.30pm–7.30pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Wardle Academy: 4.30pm–7.30pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026
Further information
- School admissions – find more details on the admissions process and start your application
- Secondary school details – details on secondary schools in the borough of Rochdale