Getting a primary school place
Children go to primary school when they’re aged between four and 11 years old. You can apply online for your child’s first year place at primary school (Primary one). The online citizen portal closes at 12 noon on 27 January 2023.
Applications for primary school places
Applications for primary school places submitted by 27 January 2023 will be treated as punctual.
All applications submitted by the deadline are considered as ‘punctual’. Places are not awarded on a first come first served basis.
The online application procedure for primary one admissions will be available on the Education Authority website.
Help and access to online applications
Digital advice is available on the Education Authority website.
Late applications
More information is available on the Education Authority website.
Deferral for younger children
A new law will allow the parents or guardians of younger children in the year group to defer the start of pre-school and primary school for their child by one year. All parents who have applied for a funded pre-school or primary school place for September 2023 will be contacted with more information about this change.
You can find more information about this at: Deferral of Pre-School or Primary school places
The outcome of Primary One applications
Parents will receive notification of the outcome of P1 applications via the online portal on Thursday 27 April 2023. Parents/guardians who had applied online in January 2023 can log in and get information on their child’s primary one application.
Schools may choose to let parents know by letter for receipt on 27 April 2023.
When a child isn’t offered a place
If you applied on time but your child isn’t offered a place, the Education Authority will ask you to choose a new preference from schools that still have places available. You would have been informed by 27 April 2023. If you don’t receive notification about your child’s placement you should contact the Admissions Helpdesk.
Closing date for appealing a decision
A request to appeal a decision about your child’s application for a school place had to be with the Education Authority by 4.00 pm on Thursday 11 May 2023.