Applications for moving during the school year can only be made online using the Citizen Portal. Once the application has been processed and a decision reached (10 – 15 school days), you will receive an email informing you that your child’s school place details are available in the Citizen Portal. To view the offer information, you will need to log into the Citizen Portal. This will advise you of the school place offered to your child and what you need to do next.
If you are applying for a school place at a school in another local authority, you will need to contact that local authority to find out the process of applying for schools in that area. You cannot use the Bolton Citizen Portal to apply to move school place to another area.
Before you fill in your application you should read the information on this page carefully as it explains the admissions procedure in full.
How long does it take to process an application?
It can take up to 15 school days to process from the time that you submit your application.
How are places allocated?
School places are allocated using the school admission policy for the school(s) that you would like to apply for. These can be found in the Schools Directory.
What can I do if my child is refused a place? Can I appeal?
If you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools, you can submit an appeal form to Democratic Services. Information on appeals can be found here.
Can my child’s name be placed on a waiting list for a school?
Your child will automatically be added to the waiting list for your preferred school(s) for the remainder of the school year. We will contact you straight away if we are able to offer a place from the waiting list.
How do I apply if my child has SEN?
If your child has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) you must contact the SEN Team – ea.sen@bolton.gov.uk as we do not process applications for school transfer where a child has an EHCP.
What happens if I have shared parental responsibility for my child
If you have shared parental responsibility, we advise that both parents agree on the school preferences before applying as only one application can be processed. Where a child spends an equal amount of time with both parents, the address used will be the registered address i.e., the address held by a GP, or the address that child benefit is paid to. Failure to reach an agreement may result in your application being suspended until both parents can reach a mutually acceptable decision about their school preferences.
How does the fair access protocol apply to my child’s application?
Each local authority must have a Fair Access Protocol to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children, and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible. The Fair Access Protocol may only be used to place vulnerable and/or hard to place children, where they are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, and it can be demonstrated that reasonable measures nave been taken to secure a place through the usual admission procedures.
Details on the Fair Access Protocol can be found in the School Admissions Code 2021, pages 32 -34.