Newcastle City Council

Changing your child's school can affect him or her in many ways and the decision should not be taken without careful thought. We know that a number of families will need to transfer their child to another school during the academic year, rather than at the usual transfer times. This may be because they are moving into Newcastle or moving within the city. These school moves are called ‘in-year’ or ‘casual’ admissions.

If you wish to apply for a school place in-year at a first or primary school please contact Families Information Service who will be able to expalin the process according to your specific need. 

Application form for in-year admissions You can download an in-year admissions application form here. (Word doc).

Applications will be considered according to the School Admissions Code and Newcastle’s Fair Access Protocol. The Fair Access Protocol ensures that potentially vulnerable children are effectively provided for in admission arrangements.

Priority will be given to applications for in-year admission to a Newcastle school if:

• The child is moving into Newcastle from another area and is without a school place.
• The child is without a school place for other reasons, is not on the verge of exclusion and has not been excluded from school.
• The child is moving to a new location within Newcastle which will make a significant difference to travel arrangements.
• There are exceptional reasons for an urgent move relating to the child’s safety, health and welfare.

If you have not moved house, please consider the following before deciding to change your child’s school:

• Each school teaches the National Curriculum in different ways and at different times of the academic year. How will your child cope with learning new rules and doing things in different ways? They may have done the work before, missed important earlier work, or find the work new or strange.
• Children need to feel happy at school and relationships with the right friends, and with teachers, are an important part of this. Will your child be able to settle in and get to know new people quickly, so that their learning does not suffer?
• If you have other children attending the same school, will it be a problem for you to have your children attending different schools? There is no automatic right for your other children to transfer to the new school either now or in the future. Will you be able to transport your children to different schools at the appropriate times?
• You might need to buy a completely new uniform, including PE kit, if your child changes school.
• How would your child get to a new school? What will be the cost involved? A change will usually be regarded as parental choice. In most circumstances you are unlikely to be eligible for travel assistance to the preferred school.

Many things that worry parents, carers and children can be sorted out without the need to move schools. Often moving schools will not resolve some of your concerns and can even have a bad effect on your child's education.

If you are not happy about the way in which the school is working with your child you should speak to the Head teacher first. If you need further help, please contact Newcastle Families Information Service (FIS).