FAMILIES across Devon can now apply for a secondary school place for their child for next year.

Parents of children who are now starting in Year 6 in a Devon primary school are being sent a letter explaining how they can apply for a secondary place for September 2011.

Applications for secondary places opened today and close on October 31.

Education officials say timely application is essential — particularly where schools are likely to be oversubscribed.

Devon County Council managed to reduce late applications by 13% for the September 2010 intake and is aiming to do even better this year.

Applications can be made online at http://www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline">www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline and allocations will be available from March 1, 2011.

People who do not want to apply online can contact the education helpline on 0845 155 1019 or email [email protected]">[email protected]

Primary and secondary schools all have a reference copy of the Next Step booklet giving details of admission procedures and information about each of Devon's 37 secondary schools.

The Next Step is also available online and a full copy can be downloaded along with electronic information about individual schools on the website at http://www.devon.gov.uk/nextstep11">www.devon.gov.uk/nextstep11

Applications for primary school places open on November 1 and close on January 15.

Devon's cabinet member for schools and skills Christine Channon said: 'Online admissions is a convenient and time saving method of applying for a school place.

'Although parents may still apply in writing, there are many benefits to applying online.'

The benefits for parents and carers meant: a quicker and easier way of completing their applications; the ability to amend the application right up to the deadline date; no risk the application will get lost; no need to rush back to hand forms in at the school or to Devon County Council; immediate online notification when allocations are made.