Starting school

Children are normally admitted to school at the start of or during the reception year, that is the school year in which they become 5.

You must apply for a place in the reception class that starts in September 2023 if your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019.

It is important to read the Starting School Booklet (PDF) on how to enrol your child into school.  

Apply online

The deadline to make an application has now closed.

If you need to apply for a place to start school in 2023 you must now use the Starting School 2023 application form (PDF).

This form has been designed so that you can fill it in electronically and then attach it to an email and send to back to us at: admissions@bedford.gov.uk.

If you live in Bedford Borough you must apply through us. If we're not your council, you can find out who is on GOV.UK.

Please contact the School Admissions Service on admissions@bedford.gov.uk if you need advice about applying for a school place.

Closing date for applications

The deadline for online applications was 15 January 2023.

For more detailed information about the timescales go to Bedford Borough Council Admission Arrangements 2023.

National Offer Day is 17 April 2023

If you have applied online, you will receive an email to let you know the outcome of your application. In addition, as the results will be posted to the online system overnight, you can log into your account to access the result of your application. If you have not applied online, we will post a letter to you on this day.

If you have not been offered a place at one of your preferred schools, here is the information about the numbers of offers, applications received and places at each school (PDF) and how to lodge an appeal.