Wait for news of secondary school places almost over for pupils and parents

Parents of pupils going to secondary school in September 2015 will receive an allocation offer from Gloucestershire County Council on Monday, March 2.

Online applications remain high this year with 94 per cent of submissions being made via the system.

Those who applied via the website will receive an email confirming their school place after 9am and will be able to accept their place online if they prefer.

All other parents and carers will receive written notification of their child’s allocated school in the post on the same day.

This letter will be specific to each pupil and will contain an explanation for the decision made. Applicants will have until Friday, March 13 to accept their school place or request an alternative school.

Charlotte Jones, senior admissions manager at the county council, said: "We know this can be a stressful time for pupils and parents and our admissions and transfer team has worked very hard to try to ensure that as many pupils as possible get one of their preferred schools.”

This year, at this stage, 98 per cent of pupils have received a place at one of their preferred schools, and 88 per cent have been offered their first preference.

A total of 6741 children will receive an offer of a school place within Gloucestershire or in a neighbouring county in line with parental preferences.

Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Starting the next phase of education at secondary school is a big step, but a really exciting time for parents and pupils.

"I would like to wish everyone well as they head off to their new schools.”

Parents and carers who ask for their child's allocation to be reconsidered, will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred school(s).

If places then become available, they will be allocated in strict accordance with the published admissions criteria for the school.

People are encouraged to keep their allocated place even if they plan to appeal to make sure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The admissions and transfer team will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration after 1st April 2015.

Parents who are still not satisfied with their allocated school will be advised of the appeals procedure.

Information about waiting lists for every school is also available at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions or within the booklets available at all schools, children’s centres and libraries.