Each Manchester school has a set number of places for the school year starting in September. If the school has more applications than places, it uses its admission rules to decide who gets a place.
Some schools use the Council's rules described here. But others use their own rules.
The Council's admission rules for primary schools from September 2025
If a school has more applications than places, we put children into one of the categories below. Places go to any ‘category 1’ applicants first, then to category 2 applicants, then category 3 and so on until there are no places left.
If there are more applications than places at a school, we use the distance from the school in each category to decide.
The categories are:
- Category 1
Children who are, or who have been, looked after by a council. - Category 2
Children with exceptional medical or social needs, or a disabled parent. See more about category 2. - Category 3
Children with a brother or sister at the school. See more about category 3. - Category 4
All other children, with those living closest getting priority.