Today is the last day for advice sessions being held for parents who want their children to start at a Wandsworth secondary school next September.

Held at the town hall, the meeting will give parents and carers the chance to find out more about how the admissions process works, what they need to do to apply for place and also to ask any questions they may have.

After the information session yesterday it is said to enable parents to prepare for next September’s school intake which commences now, even though the academic year has just begun.

The meet will be held tonight from 7 pm and 8.15pm at the Wandsworth Civic Suite in Wandsworth High Street.

They will be followed by a series of open days at all the borough’s secondary schools throughout the remainder of September and October.

This is said to allow parents to visit individual schools, view their facilities, meet teachers and headteachers and help them to make informed decisions about their school choices.

Details of the dates and times of these openings are available on the council’s website.

There is a strict deadline for parents to make their school application, which is Saturday, October 31, and the parents of children living in the borough must apply online or submit their application to Wandsworth Town Hall by this date.

Those living elsewhere must apply to their home borough by the same date.

This deadline applies to parents and carers of children who were born between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007.

Parents who submit their school choices by the October 31 deadline will be told the outcome of their applications at the beginning of March next year.

Councillor Sarah McDermott, cabinet member for education, said: “Parents have many really excellent secondary schools to choose from in Wandsworth.

“Our aim now is to do all we can to help parents make the right choice for their children. That is why we have arranged these important public meetings, where they can find out more about the admissions process and ask any questions they may have.

“It is why we have also produced a very helpful brochure that contains a wealth of information about local schools and offers a step-by-step guide to the applications process.

"In the weeks leading up to October 31 parents should take advantage of the opportunity to visit individual schools. They will be able to speak to staff and form their own opinion of the school’s suitability for their son or daughter.

It is also very important that they read the admissions criteria for the schools they are interested in, to get an idea of whether their child is likely to be offered a place.

"Parents can apply to up to six schools in any part of London, but they are always strongly advised to include at least one that is close to home."

You can find out more about the application process at: www.wandsworth.gov.uk/admissions.

Additionally, copies of the brochure can be obtained by emailing admissions@wandsworth.gov.uk, or by telephoning (020) 8871 7316.