Primary One discretionary place results for September 2009 will be released November 24 by all government and aided primary schools, the Education Bureau says.

There are 42,189 children applying for discretionary places in government and aided primary schools this year and 20,848 will be offered a place in these schools. A total of 9,363 are applicants with a sibling studying, or with a parent working, in the schools they have applied to. The other 11,485 will be selected according to the points system.

Parents are reminded to bring their copy of the application form for Primary One admission and check the results of their application between 9am and 5pm November 24 or 25 at the school to which they have applied. Successful applicants should register on November 26 or 27 during school hours.

Parents who cannot register within the specified period should inform the school in advance and make alternative arrangements, otherwise they will be deemed to have given up their discretionary place.

Under the Primary One Admission System each government or aided school can make use of about half of its total Primary One places as discretionary places. The other half will be reserved for central allocation at a later stage.

Parents of the applicants who fail to secure a discretionary place or who opt only for central allocation will be invited by letter by the bureau in early January to make school choices for central allocation on January 17 or 18.