The online system will not allow you to select a school more than once.

There is no advantage whatsoever in only stating one preference by writing down the same school more than once on your paper preference form. In fact, the law makes it very clear that if you only state one preference and it is unsuccessful, a place can only be allocated after all the other applicant's preferences (first, second and third) have been considered.

The result might be that you are allocated a place a long way from your home and transport may not be available.

The online system closes on 5th November 2008 for secondary school applications and you will not be able to apply online after this date.

If you choose to apply using the paper preference form, it is important that your application is returned to your child's primary school by the deadline.

To make an application after the closing date you will need to complete a paper preference form although applications received after this date will be considered as 'late'. An exception to this is if you are moving within or into Northamptonshire.

Please see the section on Late Applications.

Yes - the overall process is co-ordinated by the County Council.

The school governors and the council work together to operate the procedures. This means that you must apply online or return the County Council preference form to your child’s current primary school whatever your preferences may be.

Some schools have an additional form that you must complete if the school is amongst your preferences (first, second or third). This is in order to assess your application against their admission policy.

• Secondary schools that require an additional form

If you apply online you do not need to submit the paper preference form. You may however need to complete an additional form for some schools if they are amongst your preferences (first, second or third).

• Secondary Schools that require an additional form

Within the 'Applying for a Secondary School Place in Northamptonshire' booklet you will find a breakdown of how the places were allocated at each school in the previous year. These figures give you an idea of the chance of you being successful in obtaining a place at your first preference school and your other preferences.

Do bear in mind, however, that these figures can only be used as a guide. The pattern of preferences may vary from year to year.

Please check whether the school(s) in question require an additional form to be completed.

If you live in Northamptonshire and your child is currently in Year 6 in Primary School and due to transfer to Secondary School in September 2009 you will have to apply to the County Council for a school place by the closing date of 5th November 2008.

You can apply for a secondary school place either online or by completing and returning a paper preference form to your child’s primary school. You should have received the “Applying for a Secondary School Place in Northamptonshire 2009/2010 Information for Parents” booklet together with a preference form from your child’s current school.

For full instructions online visit Applying for A Secondary School Place in Northamptonshire

If you move into Northamptonshire and require a school place outside of the normal transfer times please contact the Admissions Team. They will be able to advise you about the schools in the area and the availability of places.

You will need to complete the general application form below and return it to the Admissions Team.

Places cannot be allocated on the basis of intended future changes of address unless house moves have been confirmed through the exchange of contracts or the signing of formal lease agreement.

If you have not received your confirmation email please check your 'junk mail' folder as sometimes it will automatically be transferred here by some email providers.

If you still have not received it, it may be because you have typed your email address incorrectly, please
contact the admissions team.

You can recall your online application using your email address and password and make changes up until the deadline - 5th November 2008.

It is important that you remember to re-submit any amendments made; each time you submit amendments to your preferences you will receive a confirmation email.

If your child lives in Northamptonshire you will receive a personalised letter explaining how to use the online service. This letter will include a personal unique identification number (UID) for your child.

If you lose your UID please contact the admissions team

For security reasons they will not be able to give you the information over the phone but they can reproduce your original letter.

Alternatively you can use the online service without it by selecting 'No UID'.

This may not be instant and could take a couple of hours. Please check your 'junk mail' folder as sometimes it will automatically be transferred here by some email providers.

If you still have not received your password by email it may because you have entered your email address incorrectly. Please contact the admissions team for assistance.

If one or more of your preferences is for a state-funded school in another county, you should include these preferences on your preference form and return it to your child’s primary school.

Preferences for schools in other Local Authorities can also be selected when you apply online. You will need to find out from the school itself if any additional forms are needed to support your application.  

If you live in Northamptonshire, you do not need to send an additional preference form to the council in which the school is situated. We will liaise with our neighbouring councils to ensure that your application is considered according to the published admission criteria.

If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, you will receive a letter from the Children and Young People's Service (CYPS)/ Inclusion local office, seeking details of your school preference.

You will be asked to return your preference by 5th November 2008 and consultation will then follow with the school of your preference. You will be informed of the outcome of this consultation by 15th February 2009.

If you need any further clarification please contact the CYPS local office for your area, their contact details are available on the Special Educational Needs page

If your child is currently in year 8 of a Northamptonshire Middle School and due to transfer to Prince William Upper School, you will need to apply for a school place by 5th November 2008.

There are two ways to apply for a school place – either online or using the paper preference form. You should have received a paper preference form and an Information for Parents Booklet from your child’s current school. 

Please visit the ‘Applying for a secondary school place’ page for full instructions on both methods.

If you live in Northamptonshire you can either apply online or you can request an application pack from the admissions team by telephoning 01604 236236 or emailing admissions@northamptonhshire.gov.uk

Some parents readily accept the alternative place they are offered. Others will discuss the situation with their friends and perhaps the head teacher of their child’s primary school. If you have not had the opportunity to visit the school where your child has been allocated a place, it would be a good idea to arrange an appointment to find out more about the school and to ask any questions of the staff there.

Details of the appeal process will be provided with the allocation letters. If you choose to appeal, you should notify the Admission Authority in writing of the school you would like your child to go to within two weeks of receiving the allocation letter.

You may appeal for a place at more than one school. Remember you can appeal for any school for which you have been refused a place. You do not need to contact the one where your child has been allocated a place.

For further information please visit the Appeals sections

You will need to have an email account to be able to register to use the online system.

If your child is transferring to secondary or upper school and you live in Northamptonshire, you will receive a personalised letter explaining how to use the service.

This letter will include a personal unique identification number (UID) for your child. If you have more than one child transferring you will receive a UID for each child.

If you move into or within Northamptonshire after the closing date of 5th November 2008 but your application for a secondary school place is received by 2nd February 2009, in respect of Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, it will be considered as far as possible in the same way as other applications.

If you move after 2nd February 2009 but before the start of the Autumn Term in September 2009, consideration will be given to your preferences, but if all your preferred schools have filled to their Admission Number then:

• In urban areas a place will generally be offered at the nearest school with places available
• In rural areas, we will seek to make a priority placement at your linked secondary school

Please note that documentary evidence of ownership or rental agreement may be required together with proof of actual permanent residence at the property concerned.

Places cannot be allocated on the basis of intended future changes of address unless house moves have been confirmed through the exchange of contracts or the signing of formal lease agreement.

The County Council reserves the right to seek further documentary evidence to support your claim to residence.

• Community
• Voluntary Controlled
• Voluntary Aided
• Foundation
• Academy

The county council is responsible for allocating places at Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools. At the other schools, the governors decide on the allocation of places.

The admissions team will post letters with details of the allocation of places by first class mail on Monday 2nd March 2009.

Please do not contact the admissions team before the 5th March as they will only be able to advise you that your letter is in the post. It will not be possible to give allocation details over the phone.

Your letter from the council is the only official notification of a school place.

The County Council will do all it can to help you understand the procedure.

We advise you to:

• Visit as many of the schools that interest you as possible
• Visit the Online Schools Directory where you can view Ofsted Reports, DCSF performance data and admissions criteria.
• You may also wish to talk to the School Transfer Advisors who will offer impartial advice and support on the admissions process. They can be contacted on 0845 2415552.
• Contact the admissions team if you need assistance during the process.

The council will provide transport free of charge, either by dedicated vehicle or bus pass, to the nearest school or designated / linked school for your address, provided that the distance between home and school is greater than 3 miles.

The distance is measured by the shortest walking route. Additionally, if the distance from home to school is less than three miles, but along a route considered by the council to be an unacceptable walking route on the grounds of safety, free transport will be provided. Other safety issues will be considered on merit.

The full transport policy is available on the home to school travel page .

A list of Towns / Villages and their links to Secondary Schools is available within the 'Applying for a Secondary School Place in Northamptonshire' Information for Parents Booklet.

Alternatively you can search for an individual school or schools within a certain area using the Online Schools Directory and view their admission criteria.

Please note, the towns of Corby, Kettering, Northampton and Wellingborough are not formally linked to any school.

If you apply using the paper preference form and your child is currently in a Northamptonshire primary (or middle) school, please return your preference form to your child’s current school by the closing date of 5th November 2008.

If you apply using the paper preference form and you live in Northamptonshire but your child currently attends an out of county or independent primary school, please return your form by 5th November to:

School Admissions Team
Children and Young People’s Service
PO Box 216
John Dryden House
8 - 10 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7DD