MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council is alerting parents and guardians of children due to start primary education and secondary education next September that that the closing date to apply for school places is looming.

Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible to start reception classes in September 2018 and parents are asked to complete their applications before the 12th January closing date. 

Children attending Year 6 at primary school will transfer to a secondary school in September 2018, and parents are urged to complete their applications before the 30th November closing date. 

Applying before these dates will give parents the best chance of ensuring that their child attends their preferred school. 

Parents who reside in Monmouthshire must apply to the council even if their preferred school lies outside the county’s borders (excluding schools in Newport where applications are to be made directly to the city council).

The completion of an application form expressing written preference for a school is a legal necessity set out in the School Admissions Code of Practice. 

In addition, while each school within the county serves a specific catchment area parents or guardians can not assume that their children will automatically gain entry. 

Parents who submit application forms by the deadline will be informed which school their child will attend no later than 16th April 2018 for reception applications and 1st March 2018 for secondary school applications.

Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for schools and learning, Councillor Richard John said: “It’s vital that parents apply for school places on time.  Applications which are not submitted by 12th January will be considered after those received on time. 

“That means parents who apply late are at greater risk of being allocated places for their child other than at their preferred school, even if they have other children already in the school.”

Contact the School and Student Access Unit on 01633 644508 or email [email protected] for further information.