Parents can now apply to Derbyshire County Council for their child’s infant or primary school place for September 2027.
Applications for children who were born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 opened on Monday 9 November and will close at midnight on 15 January.
Parents can also apply during the same period for junior school places for children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 who are currently in Year 2 at an infant school and will transfer on to other schools in September 2027.
Applying online is the easiest method and can be done in the school admissions section of the county council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for SEND and Education Councillor Simon Mabbott said: “I’d urge all parents to apply before the deadline as choosing the right school is an important decision in a child’s life.
“Parents who don’t apply on time are less likely to get a place for their child at their preferred school which could mean having to travel further or their child not getting into the same school as their friends.”
Applying online is quick and easy and allows parents to make changes to their application at any point up to the closing date. Anyone who applies online will receive an email to confirm their application has been received.
When completing the application form parents will be asked to list, in order of preference, the three schools they would most like their child to go to.
Although parents have a legal right to express preferences they have no automatic right to a place at any particular school.
Applications submitted to the council after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did apply on time.
Any parents who are a refused a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel. Parents can apply for their child’s place online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions