Council invites applications for secondary schools

Parents and guardians of the county's 2000 year six children are being asked to apply for secondary school places for September 2008.

The council has invited all parents who live in the county to name up to three schools in order of preference by 2nd November 2007. All preferences are treated as equal initially. However, if more than one school place can potentially be offered to an individual applicant, the single offer is for the school the parent ranked highest.

All parents should have received a pack through their child's primary school which contains an information booklet telling them about admissions and transfers to schools in Herefordshire. The pack also contains an application form and dates for school open evenings.

Last year nearly 92 percent of applicants were allocated their first preference school. If parents put as their first preference the school that serves their catchment area then they usually get offered this school, but sometimes parents wish to send their children to a school outside this area.

Starting school for the first time, and transferring to secondary school are two of the most important events in any child's life. The council aims to make it as easy as possible for parents to understand the procedures involved in applying for a school place and a Choice Advisor is available to offer help and guidance on the process too.

Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "There are lots of factors that parents need to take into consideration when stating their preference for a school such as whether it is the nearest school, how good the standards of teaching and learning are, what facilities are available, whether their child will be happy there and how their child will travel to school.

"Parents also need to consider whether after school club facilities are available, which school their child's friends are likely to go to and, in some cases, religious preference.

"The council is working hard to make the system as simple as possible, so that parents and children can make real meaningful choices."

The deadline for high school applications is 2nd November - late applications may result in parents not being offered the school of their preference.

Places will be allocated and offers made on 1st March 2008.