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DEPENDS Flanders Wallonia Brussels

How do I enrol my child in school? Can the school turn my child away?

In short

You choose the school, but places are limited. At many schools you first have to pre-register on set dates. If the school is full, it can turn your child away.

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This rule in 67 seconds
Video transcript

Your child is starting secondary school. You plan to go to the school in September and enrol. It depends: You choose the school, but places are limited. Many schools need pre-registration on set dates; a full school can say no. The right way: Don't miss the dates. In Flanders, pre-register online; for French-language schools, hand in the form before the carnival holiday (2027: 25 January–12 February). If you miss the dates: Penalty: None; But: Only schools with places; If refused: You can complain.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • Dutch-language schools in Flanders and Brussels: for nursery and primary schools with limited places and for the 1st year of secondary school (1A/1B), you first pre-register online (aanmelden), listing several schools in order of preference. Pre-registration is not enrolment; afterwards you go to the school to complete the enrolment (inschrijven).
  • Pre-registration in Flanders for the 2027-2028 school year: nursery and primary school 23 February–16 March 2027, 1st year of secondary school 23 March–16 April 2027. Siblings and children of school staff always have priority. In Brussels, schools can reserve up to 65% of places for children whose parents speak Dutch.
  • French-language schools (Wallonia and Brussels), 1st year of secondary school: in January the primary school gives you a single enrolment form (formulaire unique d'inscription, FUI). You hand in the form in person at your first-choice school. You cannot enrol by phone or e-mail.
  • The FUI enrolment period takes place every year before the carnival holiday (congé de détente) and lasts about 3 weeks. For the 2027-2028 school year, it runs from 25 January to 12 February 2027. Arriving early during this period gives no advantage. If the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated using a set ranking system; siblings have priority. Those who miss the period can enrol from 19 April 2027 on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The school can only turn a child away in exceptional cases; the most common reason is that the school is full. In Flanders you receive a written refusal and a place on the waiting list. You have the right to ask the LOP for mediation within 10 days and to complain to the Commissie voor Leerlingenrechten within 30 days.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
No fine. If you miss the deadlines, you can only enrol at schools that still have places available.

Legal basis:vlaanderen.be – Wanneer inschrijven en aanmelden

Court / prison
No prison sentence.

What really matters: the indirect consequences

  • If you miss the pre-registration period, your child may not get into the school you want.

    Legal basis:vlaanderen.be – Wanneer inschrijven en aanmelden

  • In French-language schools, if someone cheats on the FUI (e.g. by giving a false address), all their applications are cancelled. The family can then only enrol from April, on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Legal basis:FWB – Circulaire 9631, p. 35

  • In French-language schools, refusing to accept the school's educational project and internal rules is also grounds for refusal.

    Legal basis:FWB – Circulaire 9631, p. 20

  • In Flanders, your place on the waiting list is kept until the 5th school day of October.

    Legal basis:vlaanderen.be – Aanmelden

Why does this rule exist?

Enrolment rules are there to share out the limited places at popular schools fairly. Instead of 'first come, first served', pre-registration and ranking prevent queues outside schools and favouritism.

Where can you go?

  • Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
  • Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
  • School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
17 / 17 statements in an official source
Checked: 02.11.2026
Last checked
02.11.2026
Rules can change
Show the 17 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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