School admissions

Admission to Nursery 2026

Please read the Ready for Nursery in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

When do children start nursery?

Children will usually start nursery in the September following their third birthday. It is possible for eligible children to access a funded nursery place from the beginning of the term after their third birthday.

Are part-time or full-time places available?

Both part-time (15 hours per week) and full-time (30 hours per week) places are available. Please see the Ready for Nursery in Tower Hamlets booklet for a list of nurseries in Tower Hamlets.

When can children start nursery?

If your child was born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 and you wish to apply for a nursery place for September 2026, you must complete an online application by 14 February 2026 through the E-admissions website.

Find out more about nursery admissions

Admission to Reception (primary school) 2026

Please read the Starting Primary School in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

Pupils usually start primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 this will be from September 2026.

You must complete an online application by 15 January 2026 through the E-admissions website.

You must make an online application for a reception place, even if your child is already attending the school's nursery.

Find out more about primary school (reception) admission

Admission to Year 7 (secondary school) 2026

Please read the Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

If you live in Tower Hamlets and your child is in Year 6 (born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015) you will need to make an online application via the E-admissions website for them to transfer to secondary school in September 2026.

Your child will also need to take a banding assessment.

To register for this, if your child attends a school outside Tower Hamlets, please complete the Banding registration form.

Closing date for making applications is 31 October 2025.

Find out more about secondary school admissions

In-year admissions 2025-26

In-year admissions take place outside the normal admission period. For example, children who have recently moved to the area and do not have a school place.

Applications for in-year transfers and admissions for children out of school must be made through the Tower Hamlets Parent Portal.

Home to school travel

When a school place is offered, parents may be entitled to support from the council with travel from home to school if they meet certain criteria, for example if the offered school is over 3 miles away from their home address.

However this support will usually only be available if you have applied for, and been refused a place at your local school first. Nursery aged children are not entitled to any travel support.

If you are not sure where your local schools are, please use our school finder tool.

You can find more information on the council’s home to school travel policy.

Find out more about in-year admissions

Supplementary information forms

Some schools require a completed supplementary form in addition to the online application form. These schools are known as own admission authority schools (OAA) and the majority of these are voluntary aided or free schools.

You must complete and return both forms for your application to be considered. Supplementary forms must be returned to the appropriate school. If you have made an online application to any of the schools listed below, please contact them for a supplementary form.

Secondary schools

Bishop Challoner School Catholic School
Canary Wharf College Crossharbour
Stepney All Saints Cof E School

Primary schools

Canary Wharf College Schools
Christ Church Church of England
English Martyrs Roman Catholic
Our Lady and St Joseph Roman Catholic
St Agnes Roman Catholic
St Anne's & Guardian Angels Roman Catholic
St Edmund’s Roman Catholic
St Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic
St John’s Church of England
St Luke’s Church of England
St Mary and St Michael Roman Catholic
St Paul's (Whitechapel) Church of England
St Paul’s with St Luke’s Church of England
St Peter’s London Docks Church of England
St Saviour’s Church of England
Stepney Greencoat Church of England

Key service areas and contacts

The School Admissions Service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm .

The service is extremely busy at this time of year, this may lead to a significant delay in the time it takes to answer your phone call.

The School Admissions Service can be contacted using the details below:
Area	Contact information
Nursery Admissions Primary Admissions Secondary Transfer Admissions In-year Admissions Travel Assistance Elective Home Education	school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk 020 7364 5006 *option 1

Check this webpage on a regular basis for any changes to the current arrangements.