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MySchoolCompass journal

Helpful reading for parents

Clear articles to make school choices, visits, forms, tutoring and appeals easier.

Parent and child reviewing a secondary-school application checklist togetherFeatured guide
A good place to begin

Your autumn secondary-school application checklist

The practical checks to complete before the 31 October secondary-school application deadline in England.

✓ Apply by 31 October✓ Check every separate form✓ Save proof of submission
Admissions planning · 9 min read
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Parent guide library

Practical help for each decision

Choose the question you are dealing with now. Every guide ends with clear next steps.

Mother and teenage son reviewing school application deadlines together2
Parent guide

Secondary School Application Deadline 2026: 31 October

The key secondary school application dates every UK parent needs to know, from 11+ registration through to National Offer Day.

Admissions planning · 7 min read
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Family completing a secondary-school preference form3
Parent guide

Does putting a school first increase your chance of admission?

Understand equal preference and put secondary schools in the order your family genuinely wants.

Secondary applications · 5 min read
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Parent and child planning an application to a school in another council area4
Parent guide

Can you apply to a secondary school outside your council area?

How cross-council secondary applications work and which council should receive your application.

Secondary applications · 6 min read
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Parent and child looking over school notes together at a kitchen table5
Parent guide

School Supplementary Information Forms (SIF): Parent Guide

Know when extra forms are needed and how to complete them.

School applications · 7 min read
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Mother and teenage daughter completing a school application together6
Parent guide

How to complete the Common Application Form

Understand equal preference, order your school choices correctly and submit a realistic CAF.

School applications · 8 min read
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Family reviewing secondary-school dates together7
Parent guide

What happens after you submit a secondary-school application?

What parents should save, check and expect between application submission and National Offer Day.

Secondary applications · 6 min read
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School buildings and grounds viewed from the front8
Parent guide

What to ask at open evenings

Use practical questions to compare teaching, culture and support.

Open evenings · 8 min read
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Parent reviewing secondary school appeal paperwork9
Parent guide

How to appeal a secondary school place

A step-by-step guide to appealing a secondary school place in England, including grounds for appeal, evidence and what to expect at a hearing.

School appeals · 8 min read
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Chinese father and daughter comparing state school options together10
Parent guide

School catchment areas explained

Understand what a catchment area actually means, how distance is measured, and how to use it realistically when planning your applications.

Admissions planning · 9 min read
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Family reviewing school application deadlines together11
Parent guide

What happens if you don’t get your first-choice school

Understand waiting lists, late offers and your appeal rights if your child was not offered your first-choice school.

Admissions planning · 8 min read
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Parent marking options on paper beside a cup of coffee12
Parent guide

SEN, EHCP and choosing the right school

How Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) affect school choice, and what to check before you name or apply to a school.

School choice · 10 min read
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Family completing a school application form together at home13
Parent guide

Sibling Priority in School Admissions: Rules Explained

Understand how sibling links affect priority, what counts as a sibling, and how to plan applications for more than one child.

Admissions planning · 7 min read
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