Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Secondary school places

Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent or carer for your child. The guidance on these pages is designed to help you to apply for a school place.

If your child's birthday falls between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014 your child will start Year 7 at a secondary school in September 2025.

You must apply for a school place as there is no automatic transfer from primary school to secondary school.

The closing date to apply for a secondary school place for September 2025 was Thursday 31 October 2024.

Apply for a secondary school place

Secondary school application guidance notes

Secondary school admissions - individual school and academy intake information

Timelines and important dates for secondary school applications

Apply for a school place in another council area

How secondary school places are offered

What happens after secondary school offer day on 3 March 2025

Ask to be put on a school's waiting list

School place appeals