Admission system in the county

Each county has its own admission system. This affects which schools you can apply to and how applicants are prioritised when places are allocated.

Admission is usually based on one of these principles:

• Entire county as one admission area: You compete for a place at all schools in the county on equal terms with other applicants. Your grades are the main factor in deciding who gets a place.
• Regional admission: The county is divided into regions. You mainly compete for places at schools in your own region, and you may have lower priority if you apply to schools in other parts of the county.
• Nearest school priority: You have higher priority at the school closest to your home that offers the programme you want.

Your grades always matter
Regardless of which model your county uses, your grades are used when places are allocated.