Most parents will need their children to transfer to secondary school at 11+ (the end of year 6). There are also secondary schools in other local authorities.
If your child is attending a local authority primary school and is due to transfer to secondary school in September 2027, you will receive a Transfer to Secondary School information sheet 2027 from your child's current primary school during the Autumn term 2026.
Make sure you read the School Transfer booklet (PDF) to find out what you need to do.
Apply online
We strongly recommend you apply for a school place using the online system which is available from 12 September 2026 to 31 October 2026.
If you cannot use the online system, you can contact us for an application form.
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 admissions@bedford.gov.uk if you need advice about applying for a school place.
Open days/evenings
Please see below details of the open evenings for the Autumn term.
- Bedford Academy: 1 October 2026 at 6pm to 8:30pm
- Bedford Free School: 24 September 2026 at 5pm to 8:30pm
- Biddenham International School and Sports College: 5 October 2026 at 4:15pm to 7pm
- Castle Newnham School: 12 October 2026 at 5:30pm to 8:30pm
- Daubeney Academy: 15 October 2026 at 5pm to 8pm
- Goldington Academy: 15 October 2026 at 6:30pm to 8:30pm
- Kempston Academy: 30 September 2026 at 6pm to 8pm
- Lincroft Academy 7 October 2026 (see school’s website for times)
- Mark Rutherford School: 8 October 2026 at 5:30pm to 8pm
- Sharnbrook Academy 29 September 2026 at 5:45pm to 8pm
- St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School: 23 September 2026 at 6pm to 8:30pm
- Wixams Academy: 8 October 2026 at 5pm to 7pm
- Wootton Academy: 22 September 2026 at 4:30pm to 7:30pm
Closing date for applications
The closing date for applications is 31 October 2026.
For more detailed information about the timescales, go to Bedford Borough Council Admission Arrangements 2027.
National offer day is 1 March 2027
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.