Pupils at infant schools in the borough will not automatically get a place at the associated junior school, Redbridge Council has confirmed. They must apply.

Parents of children who will be entering into Year 3 in September 2018, should have already applied to their junior schools,

The decision has caused anger amongst some parents who thought their children would automatically move up and that their academic future was “safe and secure” until secondary school.

“I am actually shocked,” one parent told the Recorder. “Why would anyone want to add in another layer of bureaucracy into the education system?

“With cuts to school budgets and non-core subjects being axed left right and centre, why would you want to create more admin, stress and anxiety?

“What happens if my child gets into a different junior school to a sibling?

“As a working parent, fitting the school drop-off into the schedule is hard enough as it is.”

Cllr Alan Weinberg MBE warned parents to apply for junior places in his winter residents’ newsletter.

He said: “It is vital parents apply for a place for their child or risk losing the place.

“If you have not heard from the school or Redbridge Council by either letter or email, contact the school as a matter of urgency.

“If you know of neighbours who might be affected, please let them know about this.”

A Redbridge Council spokeswoman said that the change regarding linked infant and junior school admissions is a statutory requirement to ensure that the local authority is compliant with the law.

She said parents were informed of the changes.

“A consultation was carried out and parents had the right to object to the Schools Adjudicator on admission arrangements by May 15, 2017.

“There were no objections made and the determined arrangements were published for parents in February 2017 onwards, with the application process opening in September 2017.

“Children attending infant schools still have priority for their linked junior school as long as their parents make an application before the 15 January deadline. We are working with parents of the infant schools to explain the change and remind them to apply.”