Is your child starting secondary school in September 2014?

More than 6670 letters have been sent to parents and carers by Gloucestershire County Council, explaining how to apply for a school place and giving important dates for the process of transferring to secondary school. Open evenings will also be running at all secondary schools. 

Parents must apply for a school place no later than midnight on October 31^st, 2013. They can apply online atwww.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions or download a form to complete. Most parents apply online, as it is easier and faster to make an application, with 87% of parents choosing this method last year. Parents need to use the UID from their child's primary/junior school to register to apply online. When considering which schools to apply to, parents are advised to:

• talk to parents who already have children at their local secondary schools

• look at the school websites

• read the latest OFSTED report for the schools

• find out about the entry requirements and oversubscription criteria

• consider how far away the schools are and how their child will get there as most children do not qualify for help with school transport - see the home to school transport policy at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/applyforabuspass

• how the schools will support their child if they have special educational needs

• whether their local schools have particular specialisms, for example languages, sport or technology.

Full information on the admissions process and information about individual schools is available in School Admission Guidance and Secondary School Information booklets online at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions

These are also available from individual schools, libraries or from the Admissions & Transfers Team by calling 01452 425407. It is important for parents to read this information before applying for a school place. 

Key dates

5^th October, 2013: Grammar school tests 

14th October, 2013: parents receive results of grammar school tests  

31st October, 2013: Closing date to return application form for secondary school place. 

19^th October and 9^th November 2013: fair banding tests for Cleeve School

1st March, 2014: National Allocation Day – parents receive letter informing them of secondary school place they have been allocated for their child.

14th March, 2014: Closing date to return reply form accepting the school place or requesting that your application is reconsidered if places become available at the school you want

After 1^st April 2014: Receive the outcome of any reconsideration of a school place

May to July: Appeals for schools admissions are normally held during this period.