Admissions process made faster and more accessible for parents
Parents now have the option to apply online for their child’s place at primary and secondary schools. As part of a national initiative to make the admissions process quicker and more accessible, all local authorities will be required to provide online facilities to help parents, carers and children choose and apply for school placements.
From this week, parents or carers of children who are due to start high school in September next year can make online applications for any London state school. Applications will close on 20th October this year. For primary reception, applications can be made online from 18th September and will close on 8th December this year.
Cllr Ian Gibb said “Online admissions will make the application process easier, quicker and more accessible. It’s safe and secure, and it gives parents and carers more flexibility. There are clear, simple prompts to guide applicants through each step of the process. Another benefit is the ability to view and make changes at any time until the closing date.”
Cllr Gibb said the new system would also bring benefits for schools and councils. "For schools, it will reduce the paperwork generated by the collection and collation of application forms,” he said. For the council it will reduce data entry and make the process more efficient. It will also ensure that parents or carers complete all relevant fields, which will save time.”
Parents or carers who make online applications for a secondary school placement will be able to view the outcome of their application from 2nd March 2007 while primary applicants will be able to view the result of their application on 17th April for schools in Ealing and 26th April 2007 for schools in Hounslow.
Parents applying for a secondary place online are required to provide proof of address and date of birth when accepting an offer of a place. The offer will be subject to proof being provided by 16th March 2007. The date for primary school admissions has yet to be finalised.
For more information or advice about the online admissions process in Hounslow, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/admissions/online. Alternatively call the school admissions team on 020 8583 2649 or email kiran.sharma@hounslow.gov.uk.
To apply online for an school in Ealing Borough, visit www.ealing.gov.uk/admissions, or follow the link from the homepage. For further information or advice about the online admissions process, please call Ealing Council’s school admissions team on 020 8825 5522 or email education@ealing.gov.uk.
September 6, 2006