Applying for a secondary school place in 2011/13

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If your child was born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2001, they will start secondary school in September 2012 and you must apply for a place by 31 October 2011. You can still apply after this date but it will be considered a late application. The timetable below provides details of how this will affect your application.

Timetable

Date	Action
September 2011	Schools admissions - Application for a secondary school place 2012/13 'A parents guide to finding a secondary school place' 385kb is available. Please read this booklet before making your application. You can apply for a school place online or by completing a Application for a secondary school place 2012/13 common paper application form 131kb All maintained primary schools in Wiltshire will also have paper application forms available for their year six pupils to collect during September 2011. Some foundation and aided schools with religious admissions criteria will ask you to complete a supplementary application form. These forms are available from the schools directly and must be returned to them by the closing date. Completing a supplementary form does not mean that you have made an application. You must still make an application to Wiltshire Council. If you need additional help making an application for a secondary school place, contact the Choice Advice Service.
31 October 2011	Deadline - All paper and online applications must be received by 12pm (midday). Applications received after the deadline without exceptional reasons are not considered until all the applications received on time have been allocated. You are less likely to secure a place at your preferred school and you will not receive an offer of a place until the end of April 2012. It is important that you apply on time to avoid disappointment.
November 2011 - February 2012	The school admissions team liaises with schools and other authorities to make sure that, where possible, parents get a single offer for the highest pereference school able to offer a place.
1 March 2012	Offer day - Letters are posted out first class to all parents who applied by the 31 October deadline offering them a place at one school. Online applicants will not receive an email notification of their offer.They will also be informed by letter.
16 March 2012	Deadline for parents to accept the place they have been offered. If parents don't respond by this date, we will assume that you do not want the place and it will be offered to another applicant. If you have been refused a place at your preferred school you can appeal. Waiting lists are set up.
16 March 2012	We start considering late applications and waiting lists.
From 16 March 2012	We offer spare places and any places which have become available since the 1 March offer day.
May 2012	Appeals are heard.
31 August 2012	Deadline for receiving any late applications and for putting names on waiting lists. Any applications received after this date will be considered as in-year transfer applications.
September 2012	Your child starts secondary school.
24 July 2013	Waiting lists are closed.

Key points

• It is the responsiblity of the parents/ carers to apply for a school place.
• You can apply for up to three schools, putting the school you want the most as your first preference. We strongly advise you to use all three preferences.
• We advise you to enter your catchment area school as one of your preferences so that there is more chance of your child being offered a place at one of your chosen schools.
• If you live in Wiltshire and want to apply for a school place outside the county, you must still make your application to Wiltshire Council. We will pass on your application details to the relevant council where it will be considered alongside the other applications for that school.
• If you do not live in Wiltshire and want to apply for a Wiltshire school, you must make an application to your own local authority. They will then pass on your application details to us. You will not be able to use the Wiltshire online application system or Wiltshire's paper application form. The only exception to this would be applications from children of UK service personnel.
• We will acknowledge receipt of your application. If you do not receive acknowledgement within 15 school days of returning your completed application, please contact Customer Services at Wiltshire Council on 01225 713010.

Further help and advice

Wiltshire Council has a contract with ask Wiltshire to provide free, independent and confidential information and advice to parents.

In particular, they provide the Choice Advice Service to help those who might find the admissions process from primary to secondary school difficult. The Choice Advice Service is available online, over the phone, at one to one meetings or in group sessions. Contact the Choice Advisors at ask on 08457 585072 or email choiceadvice@wiltshire.org

Related information

• Application forms, guides and policy documents
• Admission criteria
• Contact a neighbouring authority

Related links

• Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) - a national charity that provides advice and information to parents and carers on school based issues including admissions.

Last updated: 25 April 2012