The schools may only just have gone back, and many of our children are still settling into new classes with new teachers, but for thousands of Yr 6 children across Heanor and Ripley it’s already time to start thinking about next year. 

There is no longer an automatic right to a place at secondary school, and parents must apply for a place at their preferred school.

To help parents choose, all of our local secondary schools will be holding open evenings throughout the next couple of weeks, where parents and children in year 6 can go along, have a look around, meet the teachers and some of the pupils and find out more about what life at the school would be like.

Dates for each of our biggest schools are

Mill Hill School, Ripley  - Monday 19th September  6.30pm

Aldercar Community Language College - Wednesday 21st September  - 6.00pm

John Flamsteed Community School, Denby – Tuesday 27th September – 6.00pm

Saint John Houghton Catholic School, Ilkeston – Thursday 29th September – 9am-5pm

Belper School – Thursday 29th September 5.30pm

Heanor Gate Science College – Thursday 29th September 6.00pm

The deadline for applications for secondary school places is 31st October 2011. 

There are 3 different ways that you can apply:

•    online from 12 September until midnight on 31 October 2011. You can return to your application and make changes any time during this period.

•    by telephone from 19 September until 8pm on Monday 31 October 2011. You can ring Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058 to apply by phone,

•    by post. Request a paper form by emailing admissions@derbyshire.gov.uk or calling 01629 537479 .

Remember, applying for a place at a particular school does not automatically guarantee a place, although if places are available at the school you have chosen you should be offered that place.  Whilst you do have a legal right to express a preference, there is no legal right to a place at any particular school.

Please also remember that you should apply through the council that covers the area in which you live, which may not be the same as where the school is located.

You will hear the outcome of your application and be advised at which school your child has been offered a place on 1st March 2012.

For more information on the process and full details of all schools in Derbyshire, visit Derbyshire County Council’s website or call 01629 537479