Admissions for 2012 Hammersmith & Fulham schools places are now open, and parents and carers can apply for places for children who will be entering either primary or secondary school next year.

Parents are being strongly encouraged to fill out their admissions application online, but if they prefer they can fill in the paper version.

Completed forms for  secondary schools must be returned to H&F admissions section by Monday October 31, but parents are urged to return them more than a week earlier to prevent delays.

Alternatively, parents whose children already attend a school in the borough can hand the application form in to their school by October 21, 2011.

The closing date for primary applications is the January 15,  2012.

H&F Council says there are a number of benefits for parents who fill in their application form online, not least that it is quick and easy. The e-admissions system is designed to help parents by guiding them through the process, ensuring they don’t miss anything vital or make any mistakes.

The system is open 24 hours a day; seven days a week, meaning parents can edit their application and change preferences right up to the closing date. Importantly, parents have the security of knowing that their application is valid and has been accepted – they receive an auto receipt and reference number once they submit the completed application.

By applying online, parents can see which school they have been offered on the evening of April 18, 2012, for primary and March 1, 2012, for secondary without having to wait to be notified by post a day or two later.

Cllr Helen Binmore, cabinet member for children’s services, said: " With rapidly improving results and evidence that many more families are choosing local state schools, pressure on places is keener than ever. I urge parents to apply now and read the advice on how to secure their top choice schools."

The number of children living in the borough who have taken up secondary school places for this September is up to 65 per cent, compared to 53 per cent in 2008.  All secondary schools and 76 per cent of primary schools are judged by Ofsted as 'good' or 'outstanding'.

The admissions intake is coordinated on a London-wide basis, meaning H&F parents can apply for up to six state school places in any London borough, listed in order of preference, but they must apply using the application form provided by H&F Council.

Each of the schools admissions criteria are different and many of the borough’s schools are oversubscribed, so parents are asked to consider their choices carefully. If a child is eligible for a place at more than one school, the local authority will offer places in order of the parents' preference.

For further information about applying for a place, and to either apply online or download the application form. go to School admissions.

You can also contact the schools admissions team on 020 8753 3643 or 2627 or 3628 or 3664, or email school.admissions@lbhf.gov.uk.