Online applications for children due to commence Primary One in September 2026 have opened from 12 noon today (Wednesday 7 January).
If your child was born between 2 July 2021 and 1 July 2022, they are due to start P1 in September 2026 as they will be of Compulsory School.
Children born on or between 1 April 2021 and 1 July 2021 (inclusive) and children born before 1 April 2021 but with a due date on or after 1 April 2021 whose parents deferred their admission to primary school in September 2025 must also now apply for a place in a Primary School for September 2026.
Children born on or between 1 April 2022 and 1 July 2022 (inclusive) and children born before 1 April 2022 but whose due date was on or after this date may submit a request to defer P1 admission for September 2026. For more information visit ‘Deferral of School Starting Age’
Online applications opened at 12 noon on Wednesday 7 January 2026 and will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Before starting to complete your child’s application you should read carefully the published admissions criteria for each school that you wish to nominate as a preference.
You should complete your application providing all the relevant details/preference reasons about how your child meets the schools’ admissions criteria.
When making an application it is recommended that you list at least four schools in the order of your preference, as there is no guarantee your child will be accepted into the first preference.
Parents have the right to express preferences for the schools they would like their child to attend, but no child can be guaranteed a place in any school.
It is extremely important that you provide all relevant details on your application as this information will be used by individual primary schools to determine which children will be selected for admission.
Key Dates:
| Wednesday 10 December 2025 | Admissions criteria for Primary schools published on the EA website. |
| Wednesday 7 January 2026 – at 12 noon | EA Connect opens for online applications for Primary 1. |
| Wednesday 21 January 2026 – at 12 noon | EA Connect closes. Last date/time for punctual applications for Primary 1. |
| Monday 26 January 2026 – by 4pm | Final date/time for late applications.
Final date/time for Change of Preference in Exceptional Circumstances. Final date/time for documents in support of applications. |
| Monday 23 March 2026 | Parents/carers will receive application outcomes via email (where one is held) or by letter. |
