Completing an application form

Section 1: Child's details

Complete your child's name and address as it appears on their birth   certificate. Please do not use nicknames or shortened names.

You must ensure that your child's permanenthome address is correct as you will be askedto prove your child's home address when a provisional offer is made.

You must confirm whether you will be submitting another application for any twins, triplets or siblings that may also be transferring at the same time. This is so that we are aware that there will be another application from the family.

You must confirm whether you have recently submitted an in year application for another sibling. This is so that we can identify siblings and try and place them at the same school.

Section 2: School preferences

You can list up to six secondary schools on the application form, including schools located outside of Southwark, but not independent fee paying schools.

You must write the full name of each school in the order of your preference. The order of preference is used by Southwark Council's school admissions team to ensure that only one offer of a school place is made to your child.

Schools are not informed of your order of preference before the offer date and so cannot use this information when applying their oversubscription criteria.

It is important that you write the full name, gender and date of birth of any sibling (this does not include a cousin or any other relative). The sibling must be:

- Attending the same school at the child's time of entry (do not name siblings who are currently in year 11)

- Be living at the same home address

Providing this information may increase your chances of an offer depending on the published admission criteria of the school.

You should supply further details under 'Reasons for preferences' for example if you wish to make a case for exceptional medical or social needs that can best be met at a particular school.

Section 3: Children in public care 

A 'looked after child' means a person under the age of 18 for whom a local authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (section 20 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act. Children who are looked after under a series of short term placements (such as respite care) are not included.

If you are a carer of a 'looked after child' you must state which local authority is responsible for the child.

You must attach a letter with the application from the child's social worker confirming the name of the social worker, the legal status of the child and the specific reasons for the preferences stated.

Section 4: Parent/carer's details

You must ensure that this section is fully completed and that a valid telephone number is given.

Section 5: Declaration and signature of parent or carer

Please ensure you read the declaration carefully before you sign the form as deliberately misleading information on the form, supporting papers (or on both) or witholding any relevant information can lead to the withdrawal of the offer of a school place.

You must sign and date the form and return it by 31 October 2011. For details on where to return the application form please view how to apply for a secondary school place.

Unsigned forms will be returned for signature and will be treated as late if received after the deadline.

If you are applying online you will not be able sign the application. However,the registration process has a number of security measures aimed to verify the identity of the parent or carer.

For more tips on how to apply for a school place and completing the application form read about how to find the right school for your child.