Admissions Helpdesk
028 9598 5595
Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm (Monday – Friday)
As the online Parent Portal has now closed, a late application can only be submitted using a paper form. Applicants making a late application should contact their local pre-school or primary school to get a form. Once completed the paper form should be returned to the first preference pre-school/primary school as soon as possible. Please note that any applications submitted now will be treated as late and must be submitted to your first preference school/pre-school not later than 4pm on Monday 25th March 2019.
If you fail to submit an application by 25th March 2019 your child will not be considered for a place until after the close of the admissions procedure at the beginning of May 2019 at which date many pre-schools/primary schools will have filled all available places for September 2019.
The published admissions criteria of pre-schools, primary and post primary schools are now available.
Whether your child is starting pre-school, primary or post-primary, our admissions tool will help you find out what you need to know about getting a place at school.
The Education Authority (EA) manages the procedures for the enrolment of children in pre-school (age 2-4 years), primary school (age 4-11 years) and post primary school (age 11-18 years).
Please note that the following guidance does not relate to children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs as their admission to school is dealt with in a separate process. If you wish your child to attend a preparatory department of a grammar school or an independent school, you should apply to the school for admission.
Each year staff assist parents and schools in enrolling approximately 70,000 children into various types of educational settings within the age ranges.
It is the responsibility of Boards of Governors in each school or the Management Committee in each Voluntary or Private Playgroup to draw up their admissions criteria. Where pre-schools or schools are oversubscribed, Boards of Governors or the Management Committee must select children for admission by applying their published admissions criteria.
EA Staff are available to provide advice to parents in relation to enrolment procedures and where applicable the appeals procedure which exists where a child is not admitted into the school their parent has chosen.