The application period for secondary one discretionary places in government, aided and caput secondary schools as well as direct subsidy scheme secondary schools in the 2026 cycle of Hong Kong’s secondary school places allocation (SSPA) will run from Jan 2 to 16.

Primary six students’ parents, who have registered as SSPA e-platform (eSSPA) users and bound their accounts to iAM Smart+, can browse choice-making information starting from Friday and submit applications of discretionary places, the Educations Bureau said in a statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, paper application forms will continue to be accepted, and parents will receive two copies of the Application Forms for Secondary One Discretionary Places from their children's primary school.

For students not studying in primary schools participating in the SSPA system, their parents can obtain the application forms at the bureau’s School Places Allocation Section.

The two electronic or paper application forms will show Order of School Preference 1 and School Preference 2, standing for the student's first choice and second choice respectively.

In all circumstances, primary and secondary schools should not request students or parents to disclose their order of preference. Applicants and their parents should not disclose their order of preference to schools, said an EDB spokesman.

ALSO READ: 19,656 Hong Kong pupils secure Primary 1 discretionary places

Reminding parents of not submitting applications to more than two secondary schools through the eSSPA or paper application form, the bureau said the applications will be rendered void otherwise.

Parents should not submit duplicate applications through the eSSPA and in paper application form for the same child, the bureau added.

The printed and online version of the Secondary School Profiles 2025/2026 will be available starting Friday, providing parents with school information and key points to be considered when choosing a suitable school for their children.

Students who are successful in the application stage of discretionary places will not be allocated a school place in central allocation, the bureau said, adding that parents should apply to schools of their preference.

READ MORE: Hong Kong students excel in maths, science

If students are included by participating secondary schools in their Successful Lists for Discretionary Places, their parents will receive notifications from the schools on March 31, the bureau said, adding that the allocation results of discretionary places and central allocation will be released on July 7.