Starting school
You can apply for a primary or infant school place from after the October half-term holiday (in the year before your child is due to start school) until 15 January (in the year your child is due to start school).
In Surrey your child can start school at the beginning of the school year following their fourth birthday. By law they must be in full time education by the start of the school term following their fifth birthday.
If you feel your child is not quite ready to start a full-time school place you can ask for them to attend part time, or even defer entry until they reach the legally required age. If you decide to defer entry it cannot be beyond the start of the final term of the academic year that the offer was made. And, even if you defer your child's school place you will still need to apply by the given deadline and must discuss this with the school's headteacher.
Leaving school
You can leave school on the last Friday in June, if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.
You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:
- stay in full-time education, for example at a college
- start an apprenticeship or traineeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training
Schools
- Schools
- Finding a school for a child with SEND
- Parent's school advice and support
- Educating your child at home
- Extended schools
- Independent Schools council
- Common questions on leaving school