24/10/05 - Schools Admissions Go On-line

SCHOOL ADMISSIONS GO ON-LINE

School admissions are key to all those involved in education.

As part of the eAdmissions National Project, Swindon Borough Council is at the forefront of developing products that will help parents and carers apply on-line for their preferred schools. 
 
The new online facility at http://www.swindoneducation.org.uk/ will also help parents, carers and children choose a school and will help make the admissions process simpler and faster. Changes to applications can also be made on-line up to the deadline dates of 16 December 2005 for Primary applications and 21 October 2005 for secondary admissions.
 
Councillor Gary Perkins, cabinet member for Children's Services said:
 
"This is great news for Swindon as it now means that school admissions applications can be received and dealt with much more quickly."
 
To promote the new facility to parents and carers, the council has developed an innovative advertising campaign using funding provided by Central Government to launch the new facility.  Advertisements are being placed on poster sites inside all of Thamesdown Buses fleet and on external sites on about 23 Streamline buses. For those without access to their own computers, the internet can be accessed free of charge at libraries or at private internet cafes.
 
The electronic admission facility has already gone live and the council's school admissions team have so far received over 100 applications using this method. 
 
The on-line facility is offered in addition to the usual methods of applying for school places.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "I welcome this additional facility for local parents.  As ever we will continue to push for greater freedom on school places, as parents deserve the right to be free to send their children to the school of their choice."