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What can I do if my child doesn't get a place at our chosen school?

Answered by Sam Stirling, former P7 teacher · Last checked: 2 November 2026

The short answer

Your application moves on to the next school on your list. If none of your schools can offer a place, you'll be asked to choose from schools that still have places, and told how to appeal. You can also ask a full school, in writing, to put your child on its waiting list.

The next school on your list

If a school doesn't offer a place, your application goes to the next preference school you listed.

If none of your schools offer a place

nidirect says you'll be asked to choose from other schools that still have places, and you'll be told how to appeal.

Waiting lists

You can ask a full school in writing to put your child on its waiting list. Some schools don't keep one.

Appeals

You can appeal, but only on narrow grounds: that the school didn't apply its published criteria, or didn't apply them correctly. How appeals work.

Help

The Education Authority's Post Primary Admissions Helpdesk is on 028 9047 0188.

Last checked: 2 November 2026 by Sam. The official facts on this page come from:

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