The deadline to apply for a secondary school place in Brighton and Hove is looming.
Applications need to be submitted within the next couple of weeks – by Friday 31 October.
Brighton and Hove City Council acts as the clearing house for the area’s ten state secondary schools.
They include academies and church schools – Cardinal Newman Catholic School, the King’s School, the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA).
Councillor Sue Shanks, who chairs the council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “Applying on time is vital.
“Every year there are people who are not offered a place at any of their preferred schools simply because they missed the deadline.
“We recommend applying online as it means you automatically get your notification straight away instead of waiting for a letter in the post.”
The council said that the address for online applications and information about the process is www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/schooladmissions. The web page and its links include guidance and advice.
Parents who cannot or prefer not to apply online should contact the council’s school admissions team by emailing schooladmissions@brighton-hove.gov.uk or phoning 01273 293653 for a hard copy of the application pack.
Parents who need extra help – perhaps because English is not their first language or they have only just moved to the city – can phone 01273 290355 for impartial support.