Getting into school

In year admissions

The majority of displaced children will enter the UK outside the usual times for school admissions. This means that they will need to use the ‘In year admissions’ arrangements. Dorset County Council provide a guide to the process for parents.

For the majority of schools in our area the ‘in year admissions authority’ that you need to apply to is Dorset Council or Wiltshire Council. Some Dorset schools are their own admissions authority for in year admissions such as Shaftesbury School. The schools in Wiltshire that are their own in-year admissions authorities can be found by contacting the admissions team at WCC Customer Services on 01225 713010.

For all school admissions you will need proof of address which will come through other processes such as banking, Universal Credit, joining a GP surgery. Schools have catchments and criteria for admissions that are related to distance from the school. This useful page shows where schools are linked to your postcode.

Note that refugees are beneficiaries of the pupil premium which schools can use to improve educational outcomes for children. The amount available to the school is £1385 for primary and £985 for secondary pupils.

As we live in a rural area there may be concerns about transport arrangements for some families fleeing conflict. There is however a comprehensive school transport service and the school bus affords a great opportunity to make friends. Dorset eligibility is here. Wiltshire eligibility is here.

The choice of a school is something that the UK takes seriously and the variety of schools can be overwhelming for someone new to our system. This is a useful guide provided by Wiltshire for choosing a school.

If you need help with admissions for any school in Dorset then contact their team here.

If you need help with admissions for any school in Wiltshire then contact their team via WCC Customer Services on 01225 713010.

For general guidance about school admissions from the UK government go here.

In addition there are local private schools to whom an application can be made directly to the school. These can offer bursaries and scholarships.

Academic year admissions

Once in school, the admissions arrangements are much smoother and will will be made clear as the academic year progresses.

School Transport

See our ‘Getting about’ section of Practical Advice on school transport here.