Primary school places

If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, they’ll be ready for starting school in September 2023.

Take a look at our admission to school for the academic year 2023-2024 booklet before you apply for a primary school place for your child.

Summer born children 

A child reaches compulsory school age on the prescribed day following their fifth birthday. The prescribed days are: 31 December, 31 March and 31 August.

However, the school admissions code requires the provision of a school place for all children in the September following their fourth birthday. There are still other options for parents who don't feel their child is ready to start school before the compulsory school start date. You can find out more in our delayed admissions leaflet and arrangements for summer born children.

The government guidance for parents of summer born children is for people who may be thinking about delaying their child’s start in reception. This can help you to make an decision about what would be right for your child. It explains the process for asking for admission outside of age group and sets out the options and steps you need to take to arrange a delayed admission for your child.

Additionally, children born in the summer term (1 April to 31 August) are not required to start school until a full year after the point at which they could have been admitted. This means the September following their fifth birthday - the point at which other children in their age range are starting year 1.                                                 

Parents of summer born children can submit a request for delayed admission to the reception year group, rather than year 1, for any school within the authority. A decision must be taken by the relevant admission authority based on the circumstances of the case and in the child’s best interests.

If you live in Barnsley

You can include up to three schools in your application. You should rank these in order of your preference – first, second and third.

Your preference can include any primary school in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Kirklees, Sheffield or Wakefield. If the school you prefer is outside Barnsley, it’s always best to get in touch with the council in that area to check what their admissions criteria are.

If you’re applying for a place at a voluntary aided school, you'll also need to complete their supplementary information form and attach any documents when applying. The forms are available below or from the primary schools. Once you’ve filled in your form stating your preferences, hand it in to your first preference school or submit it to us. If you hand it in at the school, make sure they give you a receipt to keep.

Supplementary application forms for voluntary aided schools

If you're applying to any of the following schools, you need to complete the relevant supplementary form before applying online. You'll need to submit this form with your application.

Diocese of Hallam

Supplementary forms for the following schools:

Diocese of Sheffield

Diocese of Sheffield supplementary form for the following schools:

  • Elsecar Holy Trinity
  • The Ellis
  • Tankersley St Peters

Diocese of Leeds

Diocese of Leeds supplementary form for the following schools:

  • Dodworth St John
  • Penistone St John
  • Royston St John
  • St Mary's

Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity supplementary form

If you live outside Barnsley

If you don’t live in Barnsley, please don’t use the Barnsley application form or our online system to apply for a primary school place. Contact the school admissions service at your local council for a copy of their school admissions booklet and fill in the form included in it.

Tips for completing your application

  • Complete all sections of the form and make sure all of the information is accurate.
  • Make sure you sign all forms and letters. You may need to provide proof of guardianship.
  • If you're asked for proof of change of address, a tenancy agreement or solicitor's letter confirming exchange of contracts can be used.
  • If you're asked to provide a copy of a document confirming your child is registered at your address, you can provide any of the following:
    • child benefit book
    • information relating to Working Tax Credit/Childcare Tax Credit
    • letter from your doctor/hospital appointment/dentist
    • child's bank statement
    • medical card

Apply for a primary school place

For your child to start primary school in September 2023 you need to apply for a place by 15 January 2023. You must apply online for your child to start primary school. You might find our guide to applying for a school place online useful.

If you're unable to apply online, please contact us so we can help. If you're still unable to complete the application online, we'll provide you with a paper form. You'll receive your offer by post rather than by email on offer day if you apply using the paper form.

You can still apply online for a place after 15 January 2023, but your application won't be processed until after 17 April 2023.

What happens next

We’ll get in touch with you on 17 April 2023 to tell you the name of the school at which we can offer your child a place. If you applied online, we’ll email you. If you applied using a paper form, we’ll write to you.

  • If a place is available at your first preference school - we’ll offer your child a place there.

  • If there are only places available at your second or third preference schools - we’ll offer your child a place at one of these. We'll also place your child’s name on the waiting list of any schools you’ve ranked higher.

  • If places are available at more than one of the schools your prefer - we’ll offer your child a place at the school you’ve ranked highest.

  • If places aren’t available at any of the schools you prefer - we’ll offer your child a place at the school or academy nearest to your address that has places available.

If you don’t want to accept the place we offer, you must tell us in writing within 10 working days of receiving your offer. You'll need to confirm the alternative arrangements you've made for your child's education. 

Making an appeal

If you don’t get a place for your child at the school you prefer, you can appeal to an independent panel. To do this, you need to fill in a notice of appeal (this includes an information booklet) and send this to us by 15 May 2023.

Appeals will be held between May and July 2023. We have to comply with infant class size legislation and this may determine the type of appeal.

More information