Time to think about admissions: council urges parents to get their school application in on time

The call marks the beginning of a six month campaign to raise awareness of the admissions process and to urge people to apply online.

Primary school admissions deadline is 15 January 2011.  

On Wednesday last week Southwark's school preference team and representatives from Southwark primary schools and Sure Start were on hand at an event at Peckham Square to offer guidance and to help answer any questions parents had about the school's admissions process.

In the coming months the council will be releasing information and tips on its website, in Southwark Life and in Southwark Housing News. In September the council launches its admissions brochure and the admissions and parental engagement teams have plans to do more events.

Catherine McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "This year we were delighted to have been able to offer nearly every parent one of their preferred choices of primary school. With results improving all the time parents and carers increasingly have a range of good schools from which to choose. But it is crucial that they start thinking about admissions now, so that they can get their primary school application in on time."

Background

The council has the following top tips for parents

1. Do your research - start finding out about schools now and visit as many as possible.

2. Decide on your preferences - rank the schools you've chosen in order of preference. For primary school you can give six preferences.

3. Look carefully at each school's admissions criteria and be realistic about whether you meet them.

4. Get your application in on time - the safest way to make sure your application gets in on time, and is received by Southwark Council's admissions team, is to apply online

For more info and to apply online at www.southwark.gov.uk/schooladmissions, call 020 7525 5337 or email schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk.

Contact the schools preference adviser for impartial advice on 020 7525 5211 or visit Southwark parent partnership.

This year saw almost every parent who applied for a primary school place for their child in Southwark offered a place in one of their preferred schools. Some 95 percent were successful in securing a place for their child in their preferred school. This is an increase of 14 percent from 2009 and means that almost 300 more children than last year will go to a Southwark school of their choice. 

Southwark Council has been working closely with local schools and planning ahead to offer additional classes for local children. The tiny minority of parents who were not offered a place in one of their preferred schools will also include non Southwark residents who have unsuccessfully applied for a place in one of the borough's primaries.  

Secondary school admissions deadline is 31 October 2010.