A PARENT has told how she received no information about applying for a school place for her child — as it was revealed more than 16 per cent of primary school place application forms were submitted late in Oldham.

Oldham Council is fifth worst in the country for parents missing the deadline to apply for a school place for their child, it has been revealed.

The figures were revealed today ­—the deadline day for parents to submit an application form for their child starting school this September.

Last year, 16.31 per cent of applications were sent in late, equating to nearly 500 forms. The national average for late applications is 7.6 per cent.

One parent in Oldham told how she received no information from the council about how to apply for school places.

Stacey MacNaught’s son is due to start school in Oldham in September 2019.

She said: "We are obviously acutely aware of the fact our son is due to go into primary school this September. My husband and I have been talking about schools since before he was born and we looked up all the information about the application process ourselves.

"We’ve received nothing at all from the council – nothing to say our son is in this year’s cohort, nothing to say the application should be direct to the council rather than the schools and nothing advising us about how to go about visiting prospective schools. And, crucially, nothing telling us when applications open and close. We’ve had absolutely no word from the council at all. And I’ve got friends in the area in a similar situation, so I don’t think we are the only people experiencing that.

"It’s perfectly feasible that some parents aren’t even aware their child starts this September. After all, we talk about compulsory education from five, but children just starting reception are actually four. So I imagine it’s absolutely realistic for some parents to just assume it must be the September after.

"And for others, the fact the process is all online and all direct to the council might be overwhelming.”

Application forms need to be submitted by 11.59pm tonight.

The figures on the number of late applications to primary school places were commissioned by Exam Papers Plus.

The founder of Exam Papers Plus, Faisal Nasim, said: "We conducted the research to find out how many parents are submitting applications late. The national average doesn't strike me as overly surprising. But the fact that some council areas have such a high proportion of late applications is incredibly surprising and really begs the question - why? Is it a lack of communication from councils? Is the system too confusing? Either way, it's something that probably needs reviewing in some areas.

"Primary school applications are really important. And by being late with yours, it may mean your application isn't even considered until after the ones submitted on time are allocated. So if your first choice is a school that often receives more applications than it has places, your chances of securing your place could be diminished."

Cllr Paul Jacques, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Culture, said: "The deadline date for primary school applications is set by the Government not the council.

"It is the duty of every parent to know when their child starts school and how they should apply for a place.

"All the information is available via our website and we regularly send out reminders via our communication channels, including leaflets that are distributed to nurseries, children’s centres, private run day care centres and registered childminders. Our schools also work with us and send out information."