Secondary school admissions September 2026

Secondary School National Offer Day - 2 March 2026

If you live in Gateshead and applied online for your child's secondary school place, you will receive an email on 2 March 2026 confirming which school your child has been offered.

All applicants that live in Gateshead will also receive a letter confirming their offer. Letters will be posted second class on Friday 27 February 2026.  We cannot guarantee what day you will receive your letter as this will depend on the postal service in your area.

Acceptance of a place

We automatically assume that you want to accept the school place offered. The school you have been offered will write to you in the coming months regarding your child's transition arrangements for September.

Please only contact us if you want to refuse the school place your child has been offered, however we strongly advise you keep hold of this place, even if it's not your preferred choice. This will not affect your chances of being offered a place at a higher ranked school if a place becomes available from the waiting list.

If you have been refused a place at your chosen school(s)

If your child is refused a place at one or more of the schools you requested, your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list for these schools. We will contact you if a place becomes available for your child from the waiting list. The letter you receive will also explain what the next steps are and how you can appeal against the decision to refuse your child a place. Please await your letter for further information.

Additional information

The School Admissions Team are unable to confirm offers verbally over the telephone, please do not contact them for this reason, you must wait for your letter/email.

Admission age ranges September 2026

If your child was born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015. Your child is due to start year 7 at secondary school in September 2026.

Secondary admissions timeline (to start year 7 in September 2026)

For common issues and questions about admissions see the information section of our admissions guide.

Ofsted inspections

Ofsted are changing the way they inspect and report on schools. Find out about the Education Inspection Framework (opens new window) and how the changes might effect you as a parent/guardian.