PARENTS of children who are due to “go up” to secondary school in a year’s time have just a couple of months to apply for places.
Applications opened on Monday (1 September) and run until 31 October. After that applications are treated as “late” and increase the chances of failing to secure a place in a favoured school.
The easiest way to apply is online through the council’s website, either through the link on the home page or by keying in thurrock.gov.uk/admissions
Around nine out of every ten applications are now made online, securing a confirmation of receipt and an early (from 12.30am on 1 March 2016) check online to see which school place has been allocated.
Carmel Littleton, Thurrock Council’s Director of Children’s Services, said: “Starting secondary school is a very important part of a child’s life and we endeavour to provide the information parents need to make informed decisions about an application for a secondary school place.
“Secondary schools in Thurrock offer a range of specialisms and each will have something to offer your child. Thurrock secondary schools achieve well at GCSE in comparison to national standards and are among the most improved schools in the country.”
She added: “Don’t put it off and risk forgetting to apply.”
If your child was born between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005 you must apply for their secondary school place between now and 31 October 2015.
Last year over half the parents who made applications failed to express more than two choices, 697 only expressed one preference – up by 43 on the previous year – and 409 offered only two choices, up by 68.
Ms Littleton explained: “Parents are asked to express their preferences, from one to six. If there are only one or two choices and if they are for over-subscribed schools, this can lead to problems with children being allocated to a school that has not been nominated.
“Parents should always fill in as many of the preference options as possible. Thurrock Council co-ordinates the admissions process, so if your first or second choices are refused by the schools, our staff can refer you to the next. If there’s no third choice, you will have lost your say in the matter.”
