How to get a school place for your child?
How does the process work? What schools in your area can your child go to? How to apply, and when should you start thinking about it?
It's a mind-field trying to find a good school for your child, especially if you live where in an area where there are loads. How can you find what schools are in your area? How do you choose the right one?
How to find schools in your areas?
You can do this by either contacting your local council, or you can go to Ofsted where by entering your postcode you can find a list of schools in your area and also their most current Ofsted report.
How to apply for schools?
After you have carefully researched schools in your area and have made a choice you can apply for your child's place through your local council which you can do by visiting www.gov.uk.
You will need to apply for three schools which you list in order of preference.
Local councils may vary but you will need to do this at least a year before your child is eligible for a place. The deadline for applying for a place is currently the 15th January for this years intake.
What if I am unsuccessful at getting a school place for my child?
Your application may be turned down if there are no spaces for your child, currently the class limit is 30. You will be sent a letter if this is the case and will be required to appeal each decision separately.
If you have not received a place you will need to contact your local council to see which nearby schools still have places available.
Can I appeal against a schools decision?
Yes, you can appeal against the schools decision on the following grounds:
- You felt the decision was unfair
- The school admissions arrangements were unreasonable
- The school's admissions criteria were not legal
