Apply for school place online from next week

MORE than 2,500 Swansea families are preparing to get online to apply for a secondary school place for their child from next week.

Parents of pupils in the final year (year 6) of all the city’s primary schools need to apply for a secondary school place for their child between September 28 and November 27 this year.

Last year over 95 per cent of applications for secondary school were done online and in time, so Swansea Council is enabling parents to do the same this year.

Cllr Jennifer Raynor, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The transfer from primary to secondary school education can be an anxious enough time for parents without having to fill out complex paper forms and send them off.

“That’s why we have this system which makes it much easier and less time consuming for families to submit their bid for a place on time and enables places to be allocated in the most efficient and fair way.

“Last year 98 per cent of those applying online on time were offered their first choice of school.

“Families without web access or those who they think they may need support to make an application online should contact their primary school, local library or the Contact Centre where help will be provided, if needed.”

Parents can get more information about the applications process and about schools by going to www.swansea.gov.uk/admissions

Parents will find the Information for Parents booklet on this website which includes essential information about the admissions process.

This week over 2,500 letters will be sent out to families across Swansea with a unique identification number (UID) for their child to help make the process easier although parents are also able to apply for a school place without a UID.

Applications cannot be made until September 28. They must be submitted by end of the day on November 27.

Applicants will be notified of place offers on March 1 next year. They can opt to have that information sent by e-mail so they get it on that day.