Bracknell

A new online service to help Bracknell parents and carers apply for their child's place at secondary school goes live tomorrow (September 8).

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has devised the new service so that anyone with a child who is due to transfer from primary to secondary school in September 2007 will be able to complete and submit their application online.

From tomorrow parents will be able to access the online application web pages through the home page of the Council's website at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/doitonline

Paper applications will still be available to those who prefer more traditional methods.

When parents log-on to apply online they will find each stage of the process is explained. What's more, applications don't need to be completed in one sitting as applicants save what they have done and come back to finish it at a later time.

The system also asks applicants to correct any basic errors it identifies and provides peace of mind by sending an email to confirm the application has been safely received.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Bracknell Education, Children's Services and Libraries, said: "We are pleased to offer parents this new service which should make the important job of applying for a child's place at school simpler.

"We know a good number of parents already use our website to research schools and the admissions process.

"Given the growing popularity of the internet for all sorts of transactions I am sure many parents will appreciate being able to apply online."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "This new service promises to make it easier for parents to make important choices about where their children go to school.

"The good news for parents is that all of our schools are providing a high quality education for our children and they need only look at this year's exam results for the evidence of that."

Parents will be able to apply online for their child's place at secondary school from tomorrow (September 8) until the deadline on October 13.

Parents with a child whose fifth birthday falls on or between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 will be able to apply their child's place at Bracknell primary school from November 1. They will have until February 2, 2007 to complete their application.

Any parents who want to apply online but don't have ready access to the internet can visit one of the Council's libraries where they can get online for free.

More general information on the admissions process is available at the Council's website in the learning section. Alternatively call the school admissions team on 01344 354023 or 354144, email: school.admissions@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Borough Council