Monmouthshire County Council is warning parents and guardians of children due to start primary education next September that the closing date to apply for school places is January 13, 2017.

Children born between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013 are eligible to start reception classes in September 2017 and parents are asked to complete their applications before the January 13 closing date. 

This will give them the best chance of ensuring that their child attends their preferred school. 

Parents resident in Monmouthshire must apply to the council even if their preferred school lies outside the county’s borders (excluding schools in Newport where applications are to be made directly to the city council).

Parents may apply using the council’s online application system.  For more information, visit: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk  Alternately, parents may request an application pack by telephoning the council’s admissions team on 01633 644508 or emailing: [email protected]

The completion of an application form expressing written preference for a school is a legal necessity set out in the School Admissions Code of Practice.  In addition, while each school within the county serves a specific catchment area parents or guardians can not assume that their children will automatically gain entry. 

Parents who submit application forms by the deadline will be informed which school their child will attend no later than April 1.

Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for schools and learning, Councillor Liz Hacket Pain said: “It’s vital that parents apply for school places on time.  Applications which are not submitted by January 13 will be considered after those received on time.  That means parents who apply late are at greater risk of being allocated places for their child other than at their preferred school - even if they have other children already in the school.”

Contact the School and Student Access Unit on 01633 644508 or email [email protected] for further information.