Parents across Harrogate district urged to apply for secondary school places before deadline
Parents and carers across the Harrogate district being urged to apply online for their children's secondary school places ahead of the application deadline at the end of next month.
Applications opened on Saturday, September 12, for children currently in Year 6 who were born between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016.
Families have until Saturday, October 31, to submit their applications for children transferring from primary to secondary school next year.
Parents in North Yorkshire can list up to five preferred schools on their application form, with offers due to be announced on National Offer Day on March 1 next year.
Last year's admissions figures showed that 90 per cent of families across North Yorkshire secured their first-choice secondary school, while 97 per cent received an offer from one of their top three preferences.
North Yorkshire Council's executive member for education, learning and skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, is encouraging families to apply as early as possible.
She said: "Starting secondary school is a major milestone in a child's education and we always want the admissions process to be as easy and smooth as possible for families.
"There is always a high demand for school places and we do our utmost to ensure that children are offered a place at their preferred secondary school.
"If parents apply online it will help with the efficiency of the process.
"Parents of Year 6 children can state their preference for up to five schools on their common application form and it is a tight window so I would urge parents and carers to submit their application as early as they can."
Parents are also being reminded to consider North Yorkshire Council's home-to-school travel policy when choosing schools.
The council says transport is generally only provided to the nearest suitable school with available places that is beyond the statutory walking distance from a child's home.
It has also warned that a child's catchment school for admissions may not necessarily be the nearest suitable school for transport purposes.
Families who are taking school transport into account when making their decision are advised to check the council's eligibility criteria and use its online school finder before submitting their application.
For more information about home-to-school transport, www.northyorks.gov.uk/travelsupport
To find out more about school admissions and how to apply, head to https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/starting-secondary-school