Somerset Council is calling on Shepton Mallet parents and carers to participate in an important public consultation regarding proposed changes to school admission arrangements for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This initiative offers a significant opportunity for those in Shepton Mallet whose children are set to start or transfer schools during this period to influence key educational decisions.

The consultation seeks opinions on various factors affecting school places, such as catchment area boundaries, the number of available spots, and other admission criteria. These elements are crucial in shaping the availability of school places in Shepton Mallet and the wider Somerset region.

Parents, carers, and other community members can voice their thoughts through an online platform available at https://bit.ly/3G5AP9W. The consultation will remain open until 26 January 2024, urging timely participation from interested individuals.

Somerset Council assures that all feedback will be thoroughly reviewed. For academies, which manage their own admissions, any relevant comments will be directed to their school leaders.

Councillor Tessa Munt, Executive Lead for Children, Families and Education at Somerset Council said: "Sharing your views and feedback helps us ensure that the admissions process is easy to navigate, and more importantly, fair. In Somerset, the vast majority of children receive a place at their first choice of school (94% of primary school aged children, and 98% of secondary aged children) but we always welcome new ideas and any ways of making the system fairer. I would urge all parents and carers who are due to apply for a school place to spend a few minutes responding to this consultation. This will help us understand what people want and continually improve the process."

This consultation is a crucial platform for Shepton Mallet parents and carers to help shape the future of local education. Their engagement and feedback are vital in assisting Somerset Council to refine and enhance the school admissions process to best serve the needs of the community.