This section tells you how to apply for a school place if you need to move your child to a mainstream school in Merthyr Tydfil.

It is important to consider the following points carefully before making the decision to change your child's school.

• If your child is experiencing difficulties at their current school and you are considering moving them, it is important you contact your child's Headteacher for a meeting to try to resolve these issues before moving your child which should always be a last resort.
• The attainment of pupils who make in-year moves is markedly lower than their peers, and lower still among pupils who make multiple in-year moves.
• If your child is at a critical stage of their education (in year 10 or 11) it is likely that the school, you wish to transfer your child to will not have the same choice of subjects as your child's current school and could be at different stages of teaching the curriculum. If this is the case, any work your child has already done towards their GCSEs may not be able to be used. This could have a seriously damaging effect on your child's exam results. If your child needs to move to another school within the same year, you must apply for an ‘in-year admission’. You can do so at any time during the academic year.

Places cannot be reserved in advance. If you are moving house, you can apply in advance of your move but your child must be able to take up the place within 10 days of the offer.

Before applying, view the school catchment areas.