Ceredigion School Admissions: How to Apply for a School Place

child diong school work on a tablet in Ceredigion on first day of term

Whether you’re sorting a nursery spot, a Reception place or getting ready for the secondary school move, this guide walks you through the Ceredigion school admissions process in plain language. No council jargon, just what you actually need to know.

Heads up: Even if a school has told you there are spaces, your child cannot start until you’ve applied formally and received written confirmation from Ceredigion County Council.

Key dates at a glance

Dates shown are for the 2026/27 admissions cycle. We update this page each autumn when Ceredigion Council publishes new deadlines.

Stage	Apply by	Outcome date	Apply online
Secondary school Born by 31 Aug 2026, starting Sept 2026	31 Oct 2025	2 Mar 2026	Apply now
Primary / Reception Starting Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027	15 Jan 2026	16 Apr 2026	Apply now
Nursery (part-time) Starting Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027	15 Jan 2026	16 Apr 2026	Apply now

Ceredigion admits children to primary school from the term after their fourth birthday, so your child may start in January, April or September depending on when their birthday falls. Secondary pupils transfer in the September after their eleventh birthday.

How the application works: step by step

Step 1: Find your nearest school
Most families in Ceredigion send their child to their local school, but you can express a preference for any school in the county. Use the Ceredigion admissions portal to search for schools or contact the Schools Service on 01545 570881 for guidance.

Step 2: Read the Information for Parents handbook
Ceredigion recommend reading this before applying. It covers how places are allocated, the oversubscription criteria and useful information about each school. It’s worth a proper look, not just a skim.

Step 3: Apply online and list more than one preference
All applications are made online through the Ceredigion Council website. You can express a preference for more than one school and it’s strongly recommended that you do. If you only list one school and don’t get a place there, the council won’t know your other preferences and you could end up with a school you didn’t choose at all. Listing more preferences does not reduce your chances of getting your first choice.

Step 4: Submit before the deadline
Late applications are only considered after all on-time ones have been processed. By then, places at popular schools may already be gone. Set a reminder well in advance of the closing date.

Step 5: Accept your offer
You’ll receive a decision letter or email. Follow the instructions to accept or decline. Once accepted, contact the school directly to agree a start date.

Nursery places in Ceredigion (3 year olds)

Ceredigion funds a free part-time early education place for every three year old whose parents want one, starting from the term after their third birthday. This gives children 10 hours of funded provision per week, rising to 12.5 hours in school nursery units.

Nursery education is available in 14 primary schools across Ceredigion that have nursery units attached, as well as in 20 approved settings including Cylch Meithrin groups, playgroups and registered day nurseries.

Attending nursery at a school does not give your child automatic entry into the Reception class there. You must submit a completely separate application for the full-time primary place, and your child will be considered alongside all other applicants.

There is no right of appeal if a nursery place is refused.

Working parents may also be eligible for up to 30 hours per week of combined childcare and early education through the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer for Wales. Contact Clic Ceredigion on 01545 570881 or visit gov.wales/childcareoffer for eligibility information.

Primary school entry in Ceredigion

Children in Ceredigion can start primary school full-time from the term after they turn four. Legally, parents can delay entry until their child turns five, but you must still apply by the same deadline as everyone else. If you leave it until your child reaches compulsory school age, your preferred school may already be full.

Children are admitted termly based on their birthday, so your child may start in January, April or September rather than all in one September intake.

Secondary school applications

Children transfer to secondary school in the September after their eleventh birthday. There is no automatic transfer — you must apply. Ceredigion has four comprehensive schools, one 3-16 school and two 3-19 schools.

The secondary school deadline is earlier than primary and nursery, closing on 31 October 2025 for September 2026 entry, with results out on 2 March 2026. Make sure you don’t miss it.

Free school transport is provided for secondary pupils who live more than three miles from their nearest suitable school. If you apply to a school that isn’t your nearest, transport costs are your responsibility.

St Padarn’s RC Primary School

St Padarn’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Aberystwyth is the only Catholic primary school in Ceredigion and is a Voluntary Aided school, meaning its Governing Body is the admissions authority rather than the council. The admissions number is currently 19 places per year.

If you’re applying for St Padarn’s, you need to complete two forms: the standard Ceredigion online application and the school’s own application form, which you can request directly from the school. Both are required.

In the event of oversubscription, priority is given first to baptised Catholic looked after children, then to baptised Catholic children within the parish, then to other baptised Catholic children, followed by siblings and children from other Christian traditions. Baptismal certificates will be required as evidence.

For appeals at St Padarn’s, contact the school directly: St Padarn’s RCP School, Llanbadarn Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 1EZ. Appeals must be submitted in writing within ten working days of receiving a refusal.

School transport in Ceredigion

Free school transport is provided for primary pupils who live more than two miles from their nearest suitable school, and for secondary pupils who live more than three miles away. Distance is measured by the shortest available walking route.

If you choose a school that is not your nearest, you will be responsible for transport costs regardless of the distance. If you’re unsure which school is your nearest, contact the Schools Service before applying.

What if you’re refused a place?

First, don’t panic. You have a few options and you can use more than one at the same time.

Appeal — You have the right to appeal any refusal for a full-time school place (nursery refusals cannot be appealed). Ceredigion has an Independent Appeals Panel that considers cases from parents whose preferred school application was unsuccessful. You’ll have the opportunity to present your case either in person or through a representative. Contact the Schools Service to begin the process: education@ceredigion.gov.uk or 01545 570881.

Waiting list — If you don’t get your preferred school during the normal admissions round, your child’s name will be kept on the waiting list until 30 September of that school year. Priority for any places that come up is given according to the oversubscription criteria, not by how long you’ve been on the list.

Apply to another school — Applying elsewhere won’t affect your appeal or your waiting list position, and it means your child has a confirmed place to go to. Always worth doing alongside an appeal.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Living near a school does not guarantee a place and you won’t be considered unless you apply. There is no automatic allocation, even for your most local school.

No. Attending nursery at a school gives no automatic right of entry into Reception. You must submit a completely separate application and your child will be assessed in the same way as every other applicant.

Yes. You can apply for a place and request that your child defers entry until they reach compulsory school age (their fifth birthday). However, you must still apply by the same deadline as everyone else — if you wait until your child turns five to apply, your preferred school may already be full. The deferred place is held for your child and not available to anyone else in the meantime.

Yes, but you need to apply directly to the local authority where that school is located. Each council runs its own admissions process with its own deadlines. Contact that council directly for their application form and closing dates.

If the last remaining place at a school goes to one child from a multiple birth, Ceredigion will also admit the other sibling or siblings from that birth, even if this takes the school over its admission number.

Use the address where your child lives for the majority of the school week. If care is split equally between two addresses, contact the admissions team for guidance before you apply.

Ceredigion uses these criteria in order: looked after children first, then children for whom the school is their nearest and who have a sibling already there, then children for whom it is simply their nearest school, then children who have a sibling there but it isn’t their nearest school. Where children are equal on criteria, the one living closest to the school wins the place. Distance is measured by shortest walking route using Google Maps.

The application process is the same. Make sure all relevant details are included on the form. If the council names a specific school in your child’s IDP that is different from your nearest school, they are responsible for providing transport to that school.

Not sure which schools are in your area? The Ceredigion schools directory lists every primary and secondary school in the county, including contact details and school websites.

If you’d like to know about financial help available to Ceredigion families, take a look at our school grants in Ceredigion guide, which covers free school meals, uniform help, and other support your family might be entitled to. You can also check our Ceredigion term dates page to plan around the school year.

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