The deadline for applying to secondary school is fast approaching. October 31 is the deadline for all applications to state secondary schools, via an online form through your local council website. By now, you should have visited the schools you are most interested in, checked the admissions policy and be ready to submit your choices.
Make sure you use all the choices you are offered and don’t feel tempted to put just your favourite one or two choices, particularly if you are outside their catchment areas. This will not increase your chances of getting into that school, instead, it is more likely to guarantee that you are offered a place at a school with plenty of space (or in other words, where few people want to go). It is not worth the risk!
There is often an assumption that the highest achieving school will automatically be the best, but do ask yourself if it is really the best for your child. Sometimes smaller schools will offer better pastoral care, or additional support or might just be more appropriate.
Secondary school admissions timetable 2020/21
Round opens – 11 September 2019
Round closes – 31 October 2019
National Offer day – school place decisions are made available – 2 March 2020
Appeals closing date – 20 March 2020
Late application closing date – 20 March 2020
Mini admission round to consider changes – 3 April 2020
Late appeals closing date – 17 April 2020
Appeals hearings – May/June 2020
Waiting lists maintained until 31 December
Primary and Junior School process:
If you are looking for a primary school, the admissions open for Reception entry on September 27 and for a transfer to a junior school on November 8. It really is worthwhile visiting the schools you are most interested in and while it is useful to hear about schools from other parents, things can go out of date extremely quickly if there has been a change of staff and it is always best to see a school with your own eyes.
Entering the school system can be quite overwhelming at first, especially as things will have changed dramatically since you were at school. There is much talk of Academies, MATs, pre-prep, prep, grammar schools and so forth all with no clear explanation. To help make it all clear and straightforward, Heywood de Ferrer has put together a comprehensive guide to the education system in England and Wales which you can download for free: School Education In England and Wales.
If you want further advice on the best options for your child, please contact us as soon as possible for guidance on entering either the maintained or private sectors.
