Devon County Council

Support and information for families during the transition
from primary to secondary school

Choice Advice is a free and impartial service available to families who may find it difficult to navigate the admissions process from primary to secondary school.

In addition to that service, this website aims to provide a useful source of information and links to other websites for any parent or carer who may have general questions about the admissions process. If you cannot find the information you require or feel you would like the extra support offered by the service please contact us.

About the service

Choice Advice is a free service for families. Six part-time Choice Advisers are available to support parents and carers who would like help with information about Secondary schools and the application process.

Choice Advisers will assist parents and carers in looking at information about secondary schools and they can help with form filling and online application. They can arrange for translation and interpretation services if needed. Choice Advisers are also able to tell individual families about other support services that might be helpful to them.

What help can Choice Advisers offer?

We can:

• Provide information about different schools
• Explain how parental preference works
• Help you to make realistic and informed decisions
• Help with form filling and on-line application
• Discuss your child’s needs
• Direct you to other services which can help, such as translation, parent partnership and transport

Support can be provided by telephone or through face to face meetings.

Choice Advisers will assist families who need help to fill in the Next Step forms either individually or in small groups. They will help make sure that information is available and are happy to read and explain any aspect to parents. Choice Advisers are able to explain how the equal preference system works and if why opting for some schools might not be a realistic choice.

Choice Advice is an independent and free service for parents whose children will be moving onto secondary education. Choice Advisers cannot offer or guarantee places at any particular school or influence the secondary allocation process nor will they take a decision on behalf of a family. Choice Advisers cannot give advice that favours one school over another and they will not support or represent families in the appeal process.