THE window for primary school applications in Worcestershire slams shut tonight.

Parents have until midnight on January 15 to secure apply for their child's place at a primary, first, infant, junior or middle school this September.

Applying online is the easiest and most efficient way to apply by visiting Worcestershire County Council’s dedicated school admissions website at: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

Parents and carers are able to log on to the website at any time during the day or night, meaning last minutes changes are possible up to 12 midnight on the closing day.

Cabinet member with responsibility for education at Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Marcus Hart said: "It is a big step for young people starting school or transitioning to a new school. Our team work hard each year to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible, but it is important that the application deadline is met.

“Every child that has applied for a place over the last few years has been offered one and we are really proud of how many people get to attend their first choice school.

"In order to ensure this continues, we would remind parents to try and apply as early as possible and make sure that the deadlines for admissions are met to avoid missing out on a 2022 place."

If you require additional assistance you can contact the School Admissions team on 01905 822700.

During discussions around the major new secondary school in Worcester, it was revealed there were only 10 spare places for September 2022, with Cllr Hart telling the council: “We currently have 1,214 secondary school places available for September 2022 and we already have 1,204 pupils we know about.”

For primary schools, the council did not share its figures for places, but reminded parents that 99% of children managed to secure their first-choice primary school place in 2021.

98% of the county’s newest pupils received an offer from one of their top three choices in 2021, with 9 out of 10 children starting at their first choice of primary school and middle school last September.

The County Council received 6,088 primary school applications, and 2,638 middle school applications in 2021.

Everyone who made an application for a primary school or middle school place received an offer.