Parents of pupils in who are due to start secondary school in Gedling borough next year are being reminded they just over a week left to apply online for a place.
The application process for children transferring from primary schools to secondary schools in September 2018 closes at midnight on Tuesday, October 31 (Halloween).
Parents in Gedling borough will need to apply through Nottinghamshire County Council, even if they wish to apply for schools in other areas such as Nottingham City or Derbyshire.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s service director for education, learning and skills, Marion Clay, said: “Applying within the deadline is key. The good news is that last year 98% of families who applied for a secondary school place on time were offered one of their preferred schools.
“If a child started in Year 6 at primary school this term, parents need to apply for a place at secondary school for next September by the end of this month.”
The importance of applying on time cannot be stressed enough and failure to do so could severely restrict a parent’s chances of their child getting a place at one their preferred schools.
If parents miss the October 31 deadline, their application will only be processed after all the on-time applications. Parents should be aware that, by that time, the schools they would really like their child to attend might all be full. In that case the county council will make an alternative offer of a place at a school which could be at a distance from their home address.
The easiest way to apply for a place is online at
www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions
When making an application parents are also strongly advised to:
1) Use all of your preferences – parents should make sure that they use all four of their preferences rather than just making one preference and limiting their options. This way they are more likely to be offered a place at a school they are happy for their child to attend
2) Check the admission oversubscription criteria – parents are urged to include at least one school within the four preferences where their child will have high priority within the school’s admission oversubscription criteria and is therefore most likely to get a place. Information about the criteria can be found on the Council’s website.
The previous priority given to children living out of catchment who have a sibling connection has been reinstated in relation to 2018/19 admissions for schools where the County Council is the admissions authority.
However, academies are able to set their own admission oversubscription criteria and parents are advised to check these carefully as they can differ from school to school. They should also note that there are only two schools in the county where the Council is currently the admissions authority and these are in the process of converting to academy status
3) Include other relevant information – in the application, parents also need to make sure they mention any information that is relevant to their application which may affect how the admission oversubscription criteria are applied. They should also tell the Council if they are moving house as this may affect how their application is considered. It is important to read the relevant sections in Admissions to schools: Guide for parents 2018-2019
4) Schools with an intake in Year 10 – children due to move into Year 10 in September 2018 may also wish to consider other opportunities for education. University technical colleges and studio schools have an intake at Year 10. Children living in Nottinghamshire will have received a letter informing them of schools within a reasonable travelling distance of the local authority area and how to apply
Over 70% of those 168 parents who didn’t get one of their preferred schools for September 2017 had made only one preference.
Secondary school offers will be made on Thursday 1 March 2018 by email to those who apply online. Parents and carers who apply by post will be sent notification by second class post that day.
For more information about the application process, schools, the number of places available or how places are allocated, please visit the website at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissions or call 0300 500 80 80.
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