Parents with children due to start school in September are reminded the deadline for completing their online application form is 15 January.
The council’s continuing investment in building new schools means there are once again expected to be enough places for every child in the borough. However parents are advised to make sure they use all six options on the application form to give them the best chance of getting an offer of a preferred or nearby school.
Applications are open this year for two new schools operating out of temporary classrooms. These are Harris Primary Academy Purley Way and the Krishna Avanti Free School in Southbridge Place, Waddon.
Two schools that opened in temporary accommodation last year will be moving to their permanent sites from September 2016. Chestnut Park Primary will officially open in St James Road, Broad Green, and Heathfield Academy will open its doors in Aberdeen Road, South Croydon.
Parents can access the application form at www.eadmissions.org.uk and are advised when selecting their top six schools to include the most local school to their home which uses distance as a selection criteria, even if it is in sixth place.
Children will always be offered the highest-ranked school which has available space from their list, so putting in additional choices won’t reduce the chances of being offered a school listed as a higher preference.
However, if only some of the six options are used, and none of these have spaces, an offer will be made from the places that are left elsewhere after the first allocations round.
Parents should also check on each school’s admissions policy to make sure they do not put their child down for a school that would be unlikely to accept them.
“I’m delighted that this council has managed to ensure we have sufficient school places for every child. I’m also pleased to see the doors opening to two brand new schools this year and we are constantly looking for new sites to make sure future generations have easy access to quality education.
“However many schools often receive more applications than they have spaces for, which is why it’s really important parents use all six options on their form.
“The new schools opening this year are run by organisations with proven track records in providing a first-class education to their pupils, and parents living nearby should give them serious consideration.
“Choosing a child’s first school is an important decision, but by following our guidance parents are more likely to be allocated a place they and their child are happy with.”
Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning
