Open Evening at Bradford Forster Academy
Welcome to Bradford Forster Academy!
We can’t wait to welcome you to Bradford Forster Academy in September 2026!
Transferring from primary to secondary school is an extraordinary moment in all our lives – we’ve all been there and we want to be able to support you through the process.
For students, we want you to learn and grow every day that you are here. Stepping up to high school can be scary for some, but we want you to embrace the moment with open arms! If you need help, we will be here to support you too and our transition evening will show you how welcoming our staff and students are.
For parents and carers, we welcome you to our school community too. Families play a huge role here and communication is really important. Thank you for your support. Together, we will do all we can to nurture and support your child on their high school journey with us, starting with your application.
We are aware how stressful and hard moving to secondary school can be for you and your child and at Bradford Forster Academy we want to welcome you with open arms. On behalf of all the staff and students at BFA, we would like to wish you a warm welcome and opportunity to join the BFA family.
We will be continuing to add more information to our website and our social media channels, so please do follow our pages for updates relating to transition but it is also a great opportunity to see what our school is up to.
Key dates
Online Applications Open | Friday 12th September 2025 |
Open Evening | Tuesday 16th September 2025 (4pm to 6.30pm) |
Deadline for Applications | Friday 31st October 2025 |
National Secondary School Allocation Day | Monday 2nd March 2026 |
Online applications open – Friday 12th September 2025
Online applications can be made by logging on to Bradford Council’s website, www.bradford.gov.uk/admissions and clicking on ‘Apply now for a place at school’. Booklets are available from your child’s primary school.
Open Evening – 16th September 2025
4pm-6:30pm an evening to meet the staff at BFA, along with a tour of the building and a presentation from Mrs Earles, our Principal.
Deadline for applications for secondary schools – 31st October 2025
National Secondary School Allocation Day – Monday 2nd March 2026
Resources for Parents and Carers
The transition to high school can be difficult for both students and parents. Here are some useful resources to support you and your child with the transition.
Online Resources
This pre-teens online safety advice for parents of 11-13s from Internet Matters has lots of tips, information and guidance on all aspects of online safety including gaming, cyberbullying and social media.
Family Lives guide to supporting your child starting secondary school has lots of information and related links.
Books
Sarah Ockwell-Smith’s ‘Between: A guide for parents of eight to thirteen-year-olds’ is a guide for parents of tweens, including sections on your child’s brain development, starting secondary school, puberty, screen time, friendships and relationships, mental health and body image.
How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk is a really practical book full of tips to help parents of teenagers with communication and relationships.
