The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is now delivering its school admissions service through Achieving for Children, a community interest company set up in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond.
The Admissions Team is now operating a call back service only. Priority will be given to calls where the information is not available on the website or in the guide below;
Full details of the in-year application process can be found in the Guide to In-Year Admissions. Please take the time to read this carefully to make sure you are applying to the appropriate admissions authority when submitting your application.
You can apply for an in-year transfer if you would like your child to change schools or join a school outside the normal application round. This normally applies if:
- You have moved into the area and do not currently have a school place for your child;
- You have moved within the area and want to transfer your child to a closer school;
- You have recently moved to the UK from abroad;
- You wish to transfer your child from their current school to another school for any other reason;
Applications will be processed in order of receipt. We will normally write to you within 10 to 14 school days via email to confirm the outcome of your application. If you wish to apply for a non-Royal Borough School you must contact the local authority for which the school belongs for information about how to apply.
Applications for Voluntary Controlled and Community Schools
If you are new to the UK, please complete the form which can be found on our Admissions for Children Overseas page below:
Admissions for Children from Overseas
We will need the following information from you when applying:
- Names of preferred school(s);
- Your child's name and date of birth;
- Your contact details and email address;
Depending on your responses you may be required to provide additional documents. For example:
- Proof of address;
- Proof of sale and completion on new property;
- If you are moving from overseas you must provide evidence that you are entitled to remain in the UK; We would accept a copy of the visas for you and your child.
Applications for Voluntary Aided, Academy and Free Schools
This application must be made directly with the school(s). We will not process these schools if they are named as a preference on the form, and any delay may result in your child not be allocated at place at the school.
Schooling systems
The structure of education in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is as follows:
Windsor - Three Tier System
First School - 4-9 years of age (Year Reception to Year 4).
Middle School - 9-13 years of age (Year 5 to Year 8).
Upper School - 13-16 years of age (Year 9 to Year 11 and above if attending sixth form).
Maidenhead, Ascot, Wraysbury and Datchet - Two and Three Tier Systems
Or
- Primary school - 4 to 11 years of age (Year Reception to Year 6).
- Secondary school - 11 to 18 years of age (Year 7 to 13).
- Infant school 4 to 7 years of age (Year Reception to Year 2).
- Junior school - 7 to 11 years of age (Year 3 to Year 6).
- Secondary school - 11 to 16 years of age (Year 7 to Year 11 and above if attending sixth form).
Please refer to the schools directory for a full list of schools within The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
School place vacancies
Please email rbwm.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk for a full list of vacancy information
We aim to update this information on a monthly basis but this is not always possible during busy periods. This information is given as a guide only as vacancies can change on a daily basis; in many cases there may only be one place where a vacancy says 'YES'. Your child will not be guaranteed a place at a school based on the vacancies listed.
If a school you are interested in applying for is showing as full in the relevant year group you can still apply in order for your child's name to be added to the waiting list. You will receive a letter to confirm the outcome of your application and this will provide details about your right of appeal regardless of the type of school you are applying for.
If we are unable to place your child in a school setting for any reason, your application may be passed on as a Fair Access referral.
Waiting lists
Community or Voluntary Controlled Schools
If we are unable to offer a place at a higher preferred school, this means that the school is full in the relevant year group and your child's name will automatically be added to the waiting list(s). Any preferences ranked lower than the school offered are considered to be no longer required and will automatically be withdrawn. If you would like to change the order of your preferences after you have submitted your application, please write to rbwm.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk to let us know. Please do not complete a further application.
Waiting lists are maintained in accordance with the oversubscription criteria published in our Guide to In Year Admissions. You can contact us at any time to find out your child’s position on a waiting list.
If a vacancy becomes available and we are able to offer your child a place then we will write to you.
Please note that these lists are only maintained for the current academic year. If you would like your child's name to remain on the waiting list for the next academic year it is your responsibility to make an in-year application for the following year. The earliest you can do this is in June. We will not remind you to do this.
Voluntary Aided, Academy or Free Schools
Please contact the school(s) directly to find out your child's position on their waiting list.