Cllr Reid added: "Parents and carers should carefully consider which secondary schools to apply for on behalf of their child. We recommend they apply for more than one school, and up to three schools can be listed on the application."
A completed application must be submitted for every child requiring a Year 7 place at a secondary school. For families who are planning to move house or think their circumstances may change before next September, it is still important to make an application on time using the child’s current address. Further information to help parents and carers with this process is available at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.
Parents and carers should apply online as they will receive an email confirming that their application has been received. If they are unable to apply online, they should complete a paper application (CAF1), however these cannot be acknowledged, so it is suggested parents and carers obtain proof of postage.
Before making a school application, parents and carers need to carefully consider how they will get their child to and from school. School travel eligibility is based on a child attending their nearest suitable school that would have had a place available and where the distance criteria is met. This might not be the catchment area school. To find out more about SCC’s School Travel Policy please visit www.suffolkonboard.com/schooltravel.
Families who apply online will be able to log on to the Online Service on the National Offer Day (Monday 3 March 2025) to see their offer of a school place. An email confirmation will also be sent on the day. For those who completed paper applications, offer letters will be sent out by second class post on the National Offer Day.
Applications can be made at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions, where further advice and guidance is also available.
