The EDB announced that P6 students in the 2026 Secondary School Places Allocation may apply for discretionary places at government, aided, caput and participating DSS secondary schools by submitting applications to the schools between 2 and 16 January 2026. Parents may use the “S1 Place Allocation e-platform” (bound with “iAM Smart+”) or a paper form.
Key limit: each participating P6 pupil may apply only to schools they truly prefer, and must not submit to more than two participating secondary schools — extra applications are void. Do not also submit duplicate paper and e-platform applications for the same child. Before choosing, learn each school’s mission, traditions, religion, class structure and admission criteria.
Timeline: schools interview and select by March 2026 or earlier; on 31 March, parents of pupils placed on a school’s discretionary first-list receive notice, and may also view it on the e-platform from 10am that day. Discretionary results are released together with central allocation on 7 July.
Note: a pupil successfully placed via discretionary places will not be allocated again through central allocation, so apply only to genuinely preferred schools. Non-participating pupils (e.g. already offered a DSS place) are notified by phone on results day. All subject to EDB announcements; see “Secondary School Profiles” and school websites.