End of October is deadline day for secondary school applications

As more than 3,000 children in Hounslow begin their last year in primary school this week, Hounslow Council is urging parents and carers to start thinking about applications for secondary schools.

Parents and carers have until 31 October 2014 to apply for a secondary school place starting in September 2015.

To help guide everyone through the application process, the council is running a special drop-in information event on Wednesday, 10 September at 7pm at the Lampton Park Conference Centre.

Council staff will be on hand to explain what parents and carers need to do to apply for a secondary school place, and answer any questions about the process.

Cllr Tom Bruce, cabinet member for education and children’s services at Hounslow Council, said:

“Hounslow is one of only a few places in the country where every secondary school is rated as outstanding or good by Ofsted.

“Each school publishes its own information prospectus, and all are holding open days/evenings in September and October so parents, carers and children can have a good look round and meet some of the staff and pupils.

“If anything is unclear, or there is something you do not understand about the admissions process, please get in touch with either your child’s primary school, or the council’s admissions team.”

The Council encourages parents and carers to apply at www.hounslow.gov.uk/admissions. This website allows them to review and make changes to their applications up to midnight on the closing date. Applying via the secure Council website also means that parents will be emailed their offer in the evening of 2 March – the day the decision letters are posted.

Parents have six preferences to make, and are advised by Hounslow Council to use them all. If places are not available at one of the named schools, children will be allocated a place at a school with vacancies.

Submitting a late application greatly reduces the chance of a child being offered of a place at a preferred school, making it vital that applications are returned to the council by the closing date of 31 October.

September 3, 2014