Child starting school in 2017? Act now!

September 2017 may seem ages away but if your child is due to start school you need to start the application process now.

From Monday 5 September the City Council is taking applications from families whose children:

are due to start at primary school for the first time
junior school (having completed Year 2 in an infant school) in September 2017
are due to start secondary school in September 2017
The deadline for secondary and Key Stage 4 applications is 31 October 2016 and the deadline for primary and junior school applications is 15 January 2017.

Councillor Terri Beer, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “We fully understand how stressful the schools application process can be for parents, that’s why it’s so important that parents get their applications in as soon as possible.

“The easiest way to apply for a place is online through the Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/schooladmissions where you will find full details on how to apply and how the admissions system works.”

Each school now has its own admission criteria, so it’s important to look at the information relating to specific schools in the admission guidance booklet also on our website.

Last year the Council was able to match 89.45 per cent of young people and parents with their first choice of primary school, 100 per cent with their first choice of junior school, 93.16 per cent with their first choice of secondary school and 100 per cent with their first choice of Key Stage 4 schools.

Parents are warned if they apply late there is a risk that all the places at their preferred schools will be filled by applicants who applied on time. To maximise the chances of being allocated a place at a preferred school, parents are advised to list three schools in their application. Where the Council is unable to allocate a place at one of the parent’s preferences, a place will be allocated at the nearest suitable school to the home address with a vacancy after all the preference applications have been considered.

For more information call the council’s school admissions team on 01752 668000 or email schooladmissions@plymouth.gov.uk