Schools and learning

In-year school transfers

An in-year transfer is when a child moves from one school to another during the academic year because:

  • you move house, either within or into Liverpool.
  • you want your child to change schools for other reasons.

How to apply

Transferring from one Liverpool school to another Liverpool school

If you wish to move your child from one Liverpool school to another Liverpool school please speak to your child's current school.

They will liaise with the school you are hoping to transfer your child to.

Use our school search to find contact details for schools in Liverpool.

New to the city or transferring from another local authority school or independent school

If you are moving to Liverpool or you want to move your child to a Liverpool school from another local authority or independent (private) school, apply online below.

You should also follow this process if you have elected to home educate but you now want your child to attend a Liverpool school.

You will need a Citizen Portal account to apply.

You will already have an account if you have previously applied for a Reception or Year 7 place in Liverpool, or a school travel pass. If you don't have an account, you can register for one. See our step-by-step guide to register for a Citizen Portal account.

Apply online - sign in or register for an account.

Read our privacy notice which tells you how we use your data.

How long will it take?

In accordance with the School Admissions Code, processing time for an application should be no longer than 15 school days. We are unable to fully process transfer requests during school holiday times due to schools being closed during these periods of time. Please bear this in mind before you request an update on your application status.

Applications are followed up on a weekly basis where schools do not respond to the local authority within the published time frame.

If your child is in year groups 10 and 11

Year groups 10 and 11 are very important in a child's education and transferring your child may not be the best option.

If you are moving into Liverpool and you can't keep your child in their current school, you should apply for a transfer as soon as possible.

If your child is in a local school please discuss the reasons for the transfer with your current headteacher - we will contact your child's current school to make sure this discussion has taken place. Things to consider include:

  • Availability of places in the school you wish your child to attend.
  • The options available to your child may not be the same as in their current school.
  • The option groups for the courses your child is studying may be full.
  • The examination boards that the school uses may not be the same as those used at their current school.

If you can't match the options your child is currently studying, transferring them at this stage may significantly reduce their chances of gaining qualifications. Please discuss this with the headteacher at your current school and only proceed with the application if absolutely necessary.

Supporting information