Important Admission Dates for September 2026
Important dates
| Date | Activity/action required |
|---|---|
| Monday 1st September 2025 | Online applications open |
| September/October 2024 | secondary-admission-leaflet.pdf (hackney.gov.uk) |
| Monday 22nd September 2025 to Friday 10th October 2025 | Cognitive ability tests for children attending Hackney primary schools |
| Friday 31st October 2025 | Closing date (please apply by this date) |
|
Saturday 22nd November 2025 and |
Cognitive ability tests for children attending primary schools outside Hackney |
| Monday 8th December 2025 | Last date to: explain why your application was late request changes to your application submitted on time provide evidence of a change of address |
| Monday 2nd March 2026 | National Offer Day |
| Monday 16th March 2026 | Last date to respond to your offer |
| September 2026 | Children start secondary school |
Late applications
The deadline to apply is 31st October 2025. If your application is submitted after this date, it will be considered late unless exceptional reasons prevented you from applying on time. For example:
- you are a single parent and have been seriously ill for an extended period
- a member of your immediate family has died
- your family has recently moved into the area or has just returned from abroad (in this case we'll also need to see proof of ownership or tenancy of a property within Hackney as well as a utility bill)
The last date that exceptional reasons can be considered and agreed is Thursday 8th December 2025. After this date your application will be late regardless of the circumstances and will only be considered after all applications that were sent in on time have been dealt with. This is most likely to be after 2nd March 2026, but you may still receive a letter telling you the outcome of your application on this date.
Contacts Admissions and Pupil Benefits Team
Telephone
020 8820 7000