Parents and carers in North Somerset have been urged to apply for school places online and on time for 2023.

Applications for new school places have opened today, September 12, for primary and secondary school places from September next year. 

North Somerset Council says whether a child is starting school for the first time, or transferring to their next school, applications must be made through its website. 

Applications for secondary schools must also be submitted before October 31. This applies to all children moving from primary to secondary school in September 2023.

For primary school places, applications will need to be submitted before January 15. This applies to all children starting school for the first time in September 2023 (those born between September 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019), as well as children moving from infant to junior school.

If parents and carers wish to apply for a school outside North Somerset Council’s area, applications should still be made through North Somerset Council.

North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for children and young people, Cllr Catherine Gibbons, said: "I urge parents and carers to attend open days of schools they’re interested in their child attending.

"It’s an important decision and these events can really help with decision making and selecting which three schools to include on the application.

"Information about when these take place can be found on school websites and their social media accounts.

"While it’s a choice to submit three preferences, I strongly suggest that parents and carers do choose three schools and include their local school.

"In recent years, we’ve received some applications that have only included one preference for a non-local school. If demand is high for that single school and an offer can’t be made, it can mean that students are allocated a place at a school that can be some distance from their home, making the experience far more stressful that it needs to be.

"Once you have chosen your three schools, it’s essential that applications are submitted before the deadline to avoid not being offered a school place on national offer day.

"I’d encourage all students, parents, and carers to start looking at what is involved and which schools they would like to go to now."

Visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/schooladmissions to apply for a school place.