Parents applying for primary one catchment places at East Renfrewshire schools can now submit their application online.

Council chiefs say the online form, introduced for the first time in 2018, provides a simple way for parents and carers to apply, with 95 per cent of people choosing this method last year.

Supporting documents required as part of the process still need to be produced at each school during P1 Applications Week and this should be done from Monday, January 13, until Friday, January 17, between 1.45pm and 3.30pm.

The online process went live on Sunday and parents and carers of children who will be aged five between March 2020 and February 2021 should now apply to register in either the local denominational or non-denominational school.

READ MORE: East Renfrewshire parents pay heavy price to kids’ entry

The deadline for online application is Sunday, January 5, and applications being made after this must be done at school during P1 Applications Week.

Families who are applying for a catchment place at a Catholic school in the area are required to produce a baptismal certificate.

Priority is given to Catholic baptised children if they live in the school catchment area and if there is an oversubscription of catchment applications. When this is the case, those children of a different or no faith not able to be placed in the local Roman Catholic school will be offered a place in their local non-denominational catchment school.

READ MORE: Cash boost for East Renfrewshire schools provides support to disadvantaged pupils

Mhairi Shaw, director of education, said: “It was extremely pleasing that so many of our parents chose to use the online form last year.

“We know that family life can be extremely busy but it’s clear this new system provided a better way for parents to carry out the process, allowing them to fill out the application form at a time which is appropriate to them."

Once all applications have been processed, parents will receive written confirmation at the end of March, advising them of their child’s P1 place.

While most children attend their local school, parents can choose to apply for a place in another school through a placing request.

Anyone who has a query about their catchment area or school can call the education department on 0141 577 3246.