Primary School Admissions Guide

For information on the key dates of the admissions process for Primary Admissions, visit our Important Dates for your Diary page using the link below.

The online application for admission to P1 in September 2022 has now closed. 

All applications are now late.  Should you wish to make a late application, use the link below to submit a late Primary Application. A paper copy of the form is available to download below.  You can also submit a request by email to the Primary Admissions Office (primaryadmissions@eani.org.uk) to have a form emailed or posted to you or you can contact the Admissions Helpdesk (028) 9598 5595. 

All schools/playgroups have admissions criteria. If they get more applications than they have places available, they use these criteria to decide who to offer places to.

Before starting to complete your child’s application you should read carefully the admissions criteria for each pre-school / primary school that you wish to nominate as a preference. 

You should complete your application providing all the relevant details about how your child meets the pre-schools/schools admissions criteria.

When making an application it is recommended that you should list at least four primary schools in the order of your preference, as there is no guarantee your child will be accepted into the first preference. 

You can list up to six preferences on your online application. If you wish to list more than six preferences you should email the additional preference and reasons for preference to the Education Authority at primaryadmissions@eani.org.uk clearly stating your child’s details.

Please note that you cannot list the same preferences more than once. The only exception to this is if you wish to apply for a school which has an Irish Medium Unit and also to the school’s English Medium stream in which case you will need to list the school twice. If you apply online then you will be alerted to do so.

The Citizen Portal has now closed. 

If you have not yet received the outcome of your child’s P1 application you had submitted in January 2022 and up to 12 noon on 4 February 2022 contact the admissions office by email primaryadmissions@eani.org.uk.

A small number of primary schools provide a Reception class for children who are aged four at the date of their admission, but who are not yet of compulsory school age (i.e. children whose fourth birthday is after 1 July in a year).

Reception places will only be allocated after all children of compulsory school age have been selected for a place.

Children currently already enrolled in a Reception Class

If your child is currently enrolled in a Reception Class and you wish for them to continue their Primary 1 education at the same school, then a new application is not required.

However, if you wish to apply for your child to be admitted to Primary 1 in a different primary school, then you must complete an application for consideration.