Published Thursday 13 August 2026. Norbury families who need a school place outside the usual Reception or Year 7 application timetable should check Croydon Council’s in-year admissions guidance before starting a form.

An in-year admission is for a child who needs to join a school in an existing year group, outside the normal admissions process, or at a point when they should already be attending school. This can affect families who have moved, need to change school, or are seeking a place after the usual offer-day process.

This guide is not admissions advice and does not predict whether any child will be offered a place. It is a practical signpost to the official council and school pages Norbury residents may need.

Where to start

Croydon Council’s main school admissions page brings together primary admissions, secondary admissions, in-year admissions, transfers, waiting lists, late applications and appeals.

For secondary in-year applications, the council’s step-by-step page says parents should find schools near them, check what information is needed, apply online through the Parent Portal, and then follow the council’s guidance on what happens after applying.

For primary in-year places, families should use the council’s primary admissions and in-year application information and check whether the school or the council handles the relevant part of the process.

Norbury school pages may also matter

Local school websites can add practical details. Norbury Manor Primary School’s admissions page says Reception admissions are arranged by Croydon Council, while its own page also explains nursery admissions and points families to Croydon school admissions and eAdmissions links.

Families should check the individual school’s admissions page as well as the council’s pages, especially where nursery places, voluntary-aided schools, academies or school-managed arrangements may be involved.

Before applying, check these points

  • Whether the application is a normal round application, an in-year application, or a nursery application.
  • Whether the child is applying for a primary or secondary place.
  • Which organisation is the admission authority for the school.
  • What documents are needed before starting the form.
  • Whether the child is currently out of school, as the council’s in-year process includes guidance for children not currently attending.
  • How waiting lists work if a preferred place is not offered.

Waiting lists and late applications

Croydon Council’s admissions process page says secondary schools in Croydon are their own admission authority and maintain their own waiting lists. It says the council maintains waiting lists for the majority of primary schools, except voluntary-aided schools.

The council’s waiting-list guidance also explains that families may need to reapply after waiting lists close. Readers should check the live council page for the current academic year and deadlines, because dates change each admissions cycle.

Useful official links

Croydon Council’s website displayed a notice on 13 August saying online services would be temporarily unavailable for a short maintenance period that evening. If a page or form is unavailable, residents should try again later and use the official council pages for the latest information.