Countdown to primary school application deadline

If you haven’t yet applied for a place for your child to attend a state primary school this September – don’t worry, it’s not too late.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “Parents have until 11.59pm on Tuesday, January 15 to apply for a school place for their child starting in September 2019. While parents are not able to choose a school for their child, they are invited to give three preferences which will be considered when school places are allocated.

“Although there is no guarantee that a child will be allocated a place at their preferred school, in 2018  96 per cent of children in East Sussex were given a place at one of their three preferred schools.

“For Information about the application process, and to apply for a school place for September 2019, visit https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/admissions/  Parents will be informed of their child’s school place on April 16.”

All of the schools in the area said they are encouraging parents to make applications up to the deadline. The schools we spoke to did not know how many applications they had received so far. They will be informed on the same day as parents who has been successful.

Only two schools in The Heathfield News area received outstanding Ofsted reports – Parkside and Burwash C of E School – although their last inspection was in 2011. You can look at the most recent Ofsted report and details of SATs results on the Department for Education Performance Tables website.  https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

The East Sussex County Counvil website states that if you apply after the closing date, your request will be dealt with under the same admissions rules but after all the on-time applications have been processed.

If they receive your form by

• 29 March 2019 for infant /primary/junior schools
• 1 February 2019 for secondary schools

you will receive a decision at the same time as those who applied on time. If your preferred school(s) is fully subscribed it is likely another school will be offered.