Children have been allocated secondary school places on what is commonly known as National Offer Day.

The Press Association looks at some of the key questions.

– What is the process for applying?

Depending on the local authority, parents are requested to list three to six schools in order of preference on the application.

They can apply online or by filling out a form.

– When do you apply?

The deadline for applications is October 31. There is usually a second round of allocations in the spring.

– How do families find out what school they have been admitted to?

This can vary by local authority, but parents could be emailed or receive a notification by post. Some may have access to an app that allows them to check on the status of their application.

– Is there an appeals procedure?

The letter outlining a refusal will also explain the appeals process.

Each rejection must be appealed against separately, and parents can only appeal once against each rejection.

The admission authority for the school must allow you at least 20 school days to appeal from when they send the decision letter.

– How many secondary school places were applied for this year?

The Good Schools Guide estimates that 606,000 places were applied for this year, an increase of 23,000 on 2018.

According to the Association of School and College Leaders, the number of pupils in secondary schools is rising and is expected to increase by 428,000 over the next seven years.