Don’t have a shocker! - beware Halloween deadline for secondary school applications

Families are being urged not to miss the Halloween deadline for secondary school applications for children due to start in September 2018.

Parents should visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions before the witching hour on 31 October to give themselves the best chance of securing a place at their first-choice school.

The council has a strong record on school admissions, with more than 90 per cent of those who applied last year now attending their first-choice secondary school.

State three preferences

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Hilary Hibbert-Biles said: “You won’t turn into a pumpkin if you miss the Halloween deadline, but late applications cannot be considered alongside those made on-time, which means there’s less chance we’ll be able to offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools.”

When applying parents are strongly advised to state three preferences and include their catchment school as one of these – even if it is their third-choice school.

Cllr Hibbert-Biles said: “Understandably, many parents have strong views about which school they would like their child to attend, but we would always urge families to state three preferences on their application form, and to include their catchment school. This does not in any way reduce the chances of securing a place at your first-preference school.”

All the information about how to apply can be found here.

Year 10 transfers

Families can also apply online for Year 10 transfer to University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and Studio Schools for September 2018.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is also 31 October 2017.

School transport

All information regarding home to school transport policies is also available online