Online applications on the up at Derbyshire schools

For reception, 99.8 per cent of parents applied online compared with 99.3 per cent last year.

For junior, 99.8 per cent of parents applied online compared with 99.1% last year.

Just 5.6 per cent of the online applications were done with the help of staff from Derbyshire County Council’s contact centre, Call Derbyshire, which is down from 7.4 per cent last year.

Coun Jim Coyle, the county council’s deputy cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Applying online is really easy for parents to do and for staff to administer. We’re delighted parents find it so user-friendly.

“I’m sure that one day we’ll have 100 per cent online. It’s getting closer every time.”

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did apply on time.

Parents who fail to meet the deadline may find that the school they want their child to go to is full.