How to choose your child's next school

Across the county admissions booklets are being sent to parents of children in year 6 explaining how they go about making an application. Once again they will be able to submit their application on-line using the County Council's website.

Cllr David Elkin, the County Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness said: "Choosing a secondary school is obviously a very important decision for parents and their children to make and we would advise them to find out as much information as possible about the schools that are available before they apply. They can contact schools for a prospectus and about visits and can also check the latest Ofsted reports and exam results."

He also encouraged families with internet access to use the on-line application process. "The online application is really very straight-forward. It's available 24 hours a day and it also avoids the risk of their form being lost in the post. Parents who use the on-line service get an automatic acknowledgement that their application has been received and can also opt to hear by email which school has been allocated."

Cllr Elkin added that as well as getting advice from the County Council's admission team, parents can also seek independent advice from Choice Advisers provided by Parent Link on 01273 481172.

Parents can name three preferred schools on the application form and, whilst the admissions team makes every effort to try to meet parents' wishes, a place cannot be guaranteed at any school. This year almost 95% of parents were allocated a place at one of their preferred schools.

The closing date for applications is 23 October and decisions on applications will be sent to parents at the start of March 2010. Any parent who is unhappy with the place that has been allocated can appeal to an independent admissions appeal panel.

Families who don't have internet access at home can use the electronic information points provided by the County Council or internet access in libraries.