DESPITE increasing pupil numbers, Devon is still meeting 95 per cent of parents’ first choices for primary and secondary school places.

The admissions round for moving to secondary schools is already open for the 2017-18 academic year and the deadline for applications is Monday, October 31.

The primary school admissions round, including moving from Infants to Junior School, opens on Tuesday, November 1 and closes on Sunday, January 15, 2017.

Councillor James McInnes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for education, said: “We want every child to get a place at their designated school, but it’s important, especially for schools that are popular with parents, that applications are made in a timely manner.

“We work very closely with our school partners to try to maximise parental preferences, but unfortunately there are sometimes occasions when applications are received late and children have missed out on a place at their local school.”

The council’s priority is to ensure that every child is able to attend their local school, and that aspiration is what informs school place planning and investments in school buildings.

For further information on how to apply, or if you are in any doubt whether you should be applying for a school place, visit the council’s website: http://devon.cc/admissions , or telephone the council’s admissions team on 0345 155 1019.