Online primary one application process set to begin
Parents can submit from Thursday 1 December
Published: 25 November 2022
Parents applying for primary one catchment places at East Renfrewshire schools can submit their application online from 1 December.
The online form provides a simple and effective method for parents and carers to submit applications, with almost all applicants choosing this method last year.
Supporting documents required as part of the process can be submitted digitally as part of the two stage online process.
The online process will go live on Thursday 1 December and parents and carers of children who will be five-years-old between March 2023 and February 2024 should apply to register in either the local denominational or non-denominational school at this time.
The Council is proceeding with plans to introduce Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE), commencing with P1 children only from August 2023, and applications for this provision can also be submitted. The Council has recently consulted on the proposal for GMPE to be located at Thornliebank Primary School, and a decision on this will be made by the Education Committee on 8 December 2022. If making an application for GMPE you will also be asked to record the preferred English medium catchment school.
The deadline for applications is midnight on 20 January 2023. Any catchment applications after this date should continue to be submitted using the online form. However, it is advisable where possible to make your application by this date as this provides you with the best chance of securing a place in your preferred school.
It is important that an application is made for residents' preferred local catchment area school in the first instance, even if you plan to make a placing request for your child to attend another school or seek to defer your child's start to school. We would ask you to apply for the local catchment school, even if you intend to educate your child privately or at home.
Places are prioritised in cases of oversubscription by catchment pupils, in line with the council's admissions arrangements.
Families who are applying for a catchment place at a Roman Catholic school in the area are required to produce a Roman Catholic baptismal certificate. Priority is given to Roman Catholic baptised children if they live in the school catchment area only if there is an oversubscription of catchment applications; if this is the case, those children of a different or no faith not able to be placed in the local Roman Catholic school applied for will be considered for a place in their local non-denominational catchment school.
The documents required to be uploaded, such as your child's birth certificate, current Council Tax notice and others, will be outlined to you by email following the completion of stage 1 of the process.
Mark Ratter, Director of Education at East Renfrewshire Council, said: 'This is the start of the journey for our next group of pupils joining our schools and we look forward to welcoming them through the doors next summer. Our online primary one application process is now well established and we look forward to continuing to build on this, as it provides a more convenient way for parents to apply for school places.'
The application form will be available on the Council's website at eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/apply-for-p1.
Whilst the online process will be used by many, alternative arrangements for those unable to submit an application online can be arranged. Further details on this can be obtained by calling the Education department.
Once all applications for children wishing to enrol at their local catchment schools have been received and processed, parents will receive written confirmation at the end of March advising of their child's P1 place.
While most children attend their local school, parents can choose to apply for a place in another school through a placing request.
Placing requests for the session beginning in August 2023 must be submitted by January 31 and can be submitted online from December 1. Placing request applications will be processed and responded to by the end of April 2023.
Visit our placing requests web page for more information. If you have a query about your catchment area or school, please contact the education department on 0141 577 3246.
