Monmouthshire parents advised to meet 30th November deadline to apply for secondary school places

Monmouthshire County Council is alerting parents and guardians of children due to start secondary education next September that the closing date to apply for school places is looming.

Children attending Year 6 at primary school will transfer to a secondary school in September 2018, and parents are urged to complete their applications before the 30th November closing date. 

This will give them the best chance of ensuring that their child attends their preferred school.  Parents resident in Monmouthshire must apply to the council even if their preferred school lies outside the county's borders (excluding schools in Newport where applications are to be made directly to the city council).

Parents may apply using the council's online application system.  For more information, visit: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk

Alternately, parents may request an application pack by telephoning the council's admissions team on 01633 644508 or emailing:schoolandstudentaccessunit@monmouthshire.gov.uk

The completion of an application form expressing written preference for a school is a legal necessity set out in the School Admissions Code of Practice.  In addition, while each school within the county serves a specific catchment area, parents or guardians can not assume that their children will automatically gain entry. 

Parents who submit application forms by the deadline on 30th November 2017 will be informed which school their child will attend no later than 1st March 2018.

Monmouthshire's cabinet member with responsibility for schools and learning, Councillor Richard John said: "It's vital that parents apply for school places on time.  Applications which are not submitted by the deadline will be considered after those received on time.  That means parents who apply late are at greater risk of being allocated places for their child other than at their preferred school - even if they have other children already in the school."

Contact the School and Student Access Unit on 01633 644508 or email schoolandstudentaccessunit@monmouthshire.gov.uk for further information.