feature: School Admissions
16 November 2007
We look at how successful residents are in getting a place for their child at a school of their choice.
The vast majority of parents are offered a place for their children at one of their preferred schools.
New figures for admissions to Haringey schools in September show that for secondary schools, 90 per cent of offers were for one of the six preferences chosen by parents – with 70 per cent being offered their first preference and 10 per cent their second.
More than 94 per cent of offers at primary schools were for one of the preferences chosen by parents – with more than 82 per cent being offered a place at their first choice.
All Haringey residents who applied were offered a place at a school in the borough for their child.
Cllr Liz Santry, cabinet member for children and young people, said:
“Our schools are very popular and despite what people may think, most are offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools.
“More than nine out of 10 offers are for a school that the parent has nominated.
“Almost all offers are made on the basis of how close a family lives to a school or because they have a brother or sister there.”
The process for admissions to schools in the academic year starting in the autumn of 2008 has been going on for the last couple of weeks.
The deadline is approaching for applications for primary schools in Haringey. If your child will be five on or between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, your need to apply for a primary school place. The closing date for applications to Haringey primary schools is 9 November.
Parents can apply online at www.haringey.gov.uk/schooladmissions. An information booklet – Primary Education 2008-2009 – has also been distributed.
Last year 10 per cent of applications for both primary and secondary schools were made online – surpassing the Government target of five per cent. Although the target for this year is 10 per cent, it is hoped that more than one in 10 parents will apply online.
The closing date for applications to secondary schools in Haringey was 19 October.
There are a number of benefits from applying online:
- the process is quicker and easier
- the school place offer will be available to view online next March, so parents will not have to wait for it to be posted
- changes can easily be made to the application right up to the deadline date
- applications can be made at any time until the closing time
- it offers a streamlined system for parents making cross-borough applications
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