PARENTS of children going to secondary school next year are being reminded they need to apply online by December 22.

Approximately 2,000 pupils in Carmarthenshire are transferring to secondary school next September.

Around 75 per cent of their parents have already applied for their child’s place, however applications still need to be made for about 500 children with just weeks left to the deadline.

There is no automatic transfer, applications must be made to the county council by December 22 and parents will be informed of the outcome on March 1.

Parents who have not already done so are now being urged to complete the online application form as soon as possible.

Applications can be made at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/schooladmissions

Applications can also be made on a phone or tablet, or for those without internet access they can contact their local school who will be happy to assist, or visit their local library to use the computers available there.

Education executive board member Cllr Glynog Davies said: “It is essential that applications are made before the deadline in order for the parent and child’s wishes to be considered.

“We cannot guarantee your child a place at their favoured school, however we do try to accommodate your wishes whenever we can, so please ensure applications are made in good time so that we can do this when allocating school places.”

Parents who think they may be entitled to free transport are being urged to apply as soon as possible.

The deadline for applications is December 22, the same as the education department’s date for admissions.

Anyone who leaves it too late could find that the bus nearest their home is already full and they would have to make their own way to a bus further away from their address; that they would not be allowed to travel on the bus for their ‘transition days’; that if their application is refused and they want to go through the referral process, by leaving it much later they may find that their referral is not determined by the start of the new academic year.

Parents with children living in Carmarthenshire but moving to out of county secondary schools must apply in the same way.

Executive Board Member for Transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I would urge parents to please apply by the deadline and not leave it too late. The sooner the applications come in the sooner the officers can establish the routes.”