National Offer Day, usually 1 March, is the single day when all secondary school offers in England are released at the same time. This is when you find out which school your child has been offered, including any grammar place. It comes after you have submitted the Common Application Form and after the 11+ results, so it is the moment everything has been building towards. Knowing what to expect, and what to do next, takes some of the nerves out of the day.
- National Offer Day is usually 1 March, the same for everyone in England.
- All secondary offers are released at once, not one at a time.
- You usually find out via your local authority's online portal, email or post.
- If it is not your first choice, waiting lists and appeals are possible next steps.
What National Offer Day is
It is the coordinated day on which every secondary school offer in England goes out together. Rather than schools replying one by one, the system releases all decisions at the same time so families can compare and respond fairly.
It sits at the end of the process that begins with the Common Application Form. Once your preferences are in, this is the day they turn into an actual offer.
How you find out
Most local authorities release offers through an online portal, often with an email to let you know, and some still send letters by post. Check the exact method your authority uses so you are not caught out.
Make sure your contact details are current, just as you would for the 11+ results earlier in the year, so nothing important goes to an old address or inbox.
National Offer Day is usually 1 March, but if that lands on a weekend, offers normally go out on the next working day. Check your local authority's published date so you know exactly when to look.
What to do with your offer
If you are offered a school you are happy with, follow the instructions to accept by the stated deadline. It is that straightforward when the news is good.
Even if the offer is your first choice, respond promptly and keep the paperwork tidy. The day can feel emotional, so a clear, calm checklist helps.
If it's not your first choice
A lower offer is not the end of the story. You can usually accept the place offered while joining the waiting list for a school you prefer, and lists often move after offer day, as our guide to what happens after your child passes explains.
An appeal may also be possible in the right circumstances, though it is worth knowing the realistic odds in our guide on whether you can appeal an 11+ result. Whatever the outcome, a calm daily habit with Pip keeps your child confident for the move to secondary school.