Applying For A School

What does it mean?

Here are some common education words and jargon – come back to this section if you get stuck.

In this booklet:

• must means the law says that this has to happen.
• should means the Government has said they expect this to happen (eg in documents called guidance or Codes).

This booklet applies to admissions to schools in England. It describes the rights of parents and carers.

Other things you should know

The Local Authority (LA) deals with the administration of a local council. The education department may be part of the LA’s children’s services authority or trust. Its admissions section is responsible for coordinating school admissions in the area. In England they have a legal duty to provide advice and help to parents choosing and applying for a school. They may employ Choice Advisers to do this.

The governing body, with the headteacher, has overall responsibility for the school. The governors work for the school unpaid.

The admission authority is the official body which decides the rules on how children will get a place at the school and who is offered a place. Different types of school have different admission authorities.

Types of schools

Community schools – the LA is the admission authority.

Voluntary controlled schools – originally these were mostly church schools, but are now run like community schools. The LA is the admission authority.

Voluntary aided schools – most of these schools were set up by churches or other faiths and a few by charities. At many faith schools most or all children will be given a place at the school depending on their religion. The rules about this are decided by the governing body which is the admission authority.

Foundation schools – the governing body is the admission authority.

Trust schools – a new type of state-funded school which, like voluntary aided and foundation schools, set their own admission rules. Parents, businesses and voluntary groups can set up these schools and appoint a majority of governors. The governing body is the admission authority.

Academies and city technology colleges – funded by the government and private companies. They operate as independent schools but do not charge fees and admit pupils of secondary age on a similar basis to other state schools. The governing body is the admission authority

Secondary schools also fit into the following types:

Comprehensive schools – are open to all children. At banded comprehensive schools children are assessed so there is a balance of ability across the school.

Fully selective schools – these are generally grammar schools – all children are assessed for a place by taking tests organised by the admission authority.

Partially selective schools or schools which give priority for aptitude – a certain number of children, generally ten per cent, are assessed for a place under rules decided by the admission authority.

Specialist schools – most state secondary schools now offer a curriculum speciality and a few partially select pupils on the basis of aptitude for that speciality.

My child will be starting school or changing schools soon

How do I decide?

All parents want the best for their children. They want them to be happy at school and to be able to do their best. Deciding which school is a big step and is often worrying for parents. This booklet aims to help you make this decision.

You can use this booklet when:

• your child is about to start school
• your child is about to move up to a new school
• you want or need, to change your child’s school
• your child is on Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus
• your child is on School Action or School Action Plus

Do not use the booklet if your child has a statement of special educational needs.

Step 1: Start with your child and start early

Start thinking about schools six months to a year before the time you need to apply. Do not leave looking for a school to the last moment.

Children must start education in the term after their fifth birthday. In many areas
children start school when they are four and parents who apply when their child is
nearly five may find all the places have gone. If you feel your four year old is not ready for school, the admission authority should allow them to start later in the same school year if you ask for this when you are offered a place. If they agree, ask them to put this in writing to be sure they keep the place open.

Secondary school applications are made in the autumn of Year 6, so start thinking about schools in Year 5. In a few areas there are middle and high schools: again planning early is important.

If you are thinking of changing schools, remember to check when the new school will let your child start. Some will not allow this until the beginning of a new term or half term. If you are not applying at the usual time of entry or if you wish to change your child’s school, you do not need the agreement of your child’s current school, and you may apply for as many schools as you like. Do not remove your child’s name from their existing school’s register until you have an offer in writing from the new school.

It is important that your first thoughts are about your child. Talk to your child about what is important to them. If they are already at a school find out what is most important about school life. Are there any special things that your child wants? Do they want a local school because their friends are going there?

Nowwhat is important to you?

All parents want their children to be happy at school. Try to look at all parts of school life. Are there any special things that your child needs? Make a list of the things that you and your child are looking for in a school. Put them in order of importance.

Step 2: Judging for yourself

Below are some common reasons often given by parents for wanting a school and why it is important for your child that you get the whole picture:

“Everyone says it is a good school.” Schools can get good and bad reputations unfairly and can change very quickly with changes in head or staff.

“It has a uniform so the discipline must be good.” Uniforms and discipline don’t always go together. Remember ‘good discipline’ means different things to different people.

“It does well in the league tables.” Performance tables show the results for the whole school in tests, assessments, exams etc. Tables cannot show how well your own child may do nor how happy they will be. Some secondary schools are high up in the tables because they select the cleverest children. Value added tables measure children’s progress rather than results so check these out too.

“It is brand new and has lovely grounds.” Worn but well-loved older buildings can be just as welcoming. It's important to check if the building is well-cared for, whatever its age.

ACE advises

Find out for yourself - visit schools and ask questions.Think about your discipline and values. Do not judge only on league tables or appearances. Remember your child will learn best if they are happy.

Step 3: Collect information about all your local schools

Your local authority (LA) must have a guide about all their schools and how to apply. This should be written in plain English and be available in other languages spoken locally. The guide will tell you if any secondary schools are selective and if your child must sit an entrance test. It should also tell you if a school received more applications than it had places last year.

Check the local authority guide first. Then ask all the local schools you are interested in, for their information. If a school is in another education authority’s area, your own local authority should be able to tell you how to contact them.

Schools must have a guide too - often called the school prospectus - to give to interested parents. By law this must include information about admission of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The schools finder website (schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk) should provide profiles for all schools in England. These include tables of pupils’ achievement at each individual school. If you don’t have internet access or the profile is missing, ask the school for a hard copy of the information.

Each profile also contains the following:

• the school’s successes
• details of extra-curricular activities
• health and safety information

You can also study other documents available from the school.

There must be:

• Behaviour policy
• Home-school agreement
• Inspectors’ (OfSTED) reports written on the school
• Special educational needs policy
• Accessibility plan
• Sex education policy
• Race equality policy
• Performance (league) tables
• Work schemes and syllabuses
• Religious education syllabus

The behaviour policy should mention bullying and include racial and sexual harassment. Many schools have a separate anti-bullying policy.

List the good points for each school and list any not-so-good points. Are there any points you need to look out for when you visit the school? Are there any questions you would like to ask? Write them down now.

Step 4: Get the whole picture

Many things go together to make a good school with happy pupils. High staff turnover may mean the school is unsettled. Very low turnover may mean the staff are happy but the school could be set in its ways. Small things such as friends being put in the same class can make a big difference to children. Good leadership generally means a good school.

Exercise is important for all children but are less ‘sporty’ children encouraged? Schools can have healthy eating policies – has this school one? Books and work sheets can be non-sexist and non-racist. Is this important to you? Is playtime/break seen positively? Is there a range of activities going on or does one activity dominate? Have playground supervisors had training? Does the school offer an extended day e.g. an after-school club? How are children’s views taken into account? Is there a school council?

Some parents and education experts have different views about education. Teaching children in mixed ability classes, academic selection, and the value of homework are all issues that people feel strongly about. Are classes mixed ability or are children put into ability ‘sets’ for some or all subjects? Is there ‘streaming’? Which would you prefer for your child? Selection is not allowed in state primary schools but some secondary schools are either wholly or partially selective. Schools are not allowed to interview pupils (unless it is about them becoming a boarder) but they may have to sit a test.

Does the school set homework? How much do children generally have to do each day? Does the school have a homework policy? Do parents have any say in how the school is run? What does the school do to involve and inform parents?

Add any points you think important to your list.

Attend Open Evenings or try to arrange a visit to the school:

Use your eyes and ears.

• Is the school welcoming?
• Do staff and pupils seem happy?
• Are you encouraged to see the whole school?
• Check the library. Is it well-used and have a wide range of books?
• Check the walls and notice boards. Is pupils’ work on display? Are there notices for parents?
• Check the classrooms. Are children busy? Is there a hum of activity or just a noise?
• Check the school gate and the playground. Don’t be put off by large groups of teenagers – remember your child will be one soon!

Step 5: Now can I apply to the school I like best?

Yes. Your local authority guide will tell you how and when to apply. But remember, the law does not guarantee you a place at the school of your choice. It just says that you have a right to express a school preference or preferences and to give your reasons. In other words you have a right to say which school or schools you would prefer for your child. Your preference must be met if possible. So before applying you need to check some things out. See Steps 6 to 8.

You may apply for more than one school. Many local authorities will invite you to apply for several, particularly at secondary stage. It is sensible to apply for more schools to increase your chances of success. If you are applying at the normal time, you will apply to all the schools you prefer on a single form.

If your child is not offered a place at the school, you can explain why you feel they need one to an appeal panel. The panel may give your child a place but you may need special reasons: the fact that you prefer the school or dislike another is generally not enough. If your child is going into an infant class, by law limited to 30 children, you will generally only win an appeal if you were turned down by mistake.

If your child is changing schools or you want to apply for a school outside the usual time of entry, make sure you apply in writing. Ask the local authority whether you apply via them or the school. Even if schools tell you they are full you can still apply and, if turned down, you must be allowed to appeal. If you have just moved into the area you may be offered a place in a full infant class if there is no other suitable school within a reasonable distance.

If your child has been excluded you have exactly the same right to apply for a school as any other child. Your child cannot be turned down because of the exclusion, unless they have been permanently excluded from two or more schools and the second permanent exclusion was within the last two years. In this case they may be refused a place and you have no right to appeal. The local authority will help you find a school or alternative education if this is the case. An exclusion that was not upheld does not
count as an exclusion.

If your child has challenging behaviour, but has not had two permanent exclusions, they may be turned down for a place in a school which has serious problems, even if it is not full. In this case, you can appeal.

Step 6: Check if you are likely to get a place

All schools have a number of places (usually called the admission number) for each year group. It applies to the year when children normally start at the school, e.g. Reception for primary and Year 7 for secondary. It should only be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. Children in public care can be admitted when the school is full, so make sure you say on the application form if your child or foster child is looked after.

Wherever you live and even if your child has problems, you must be offered a place if fewer pupils apply than there are places available. The only exceptions could be for permanently excluded pupils or those with difficult behaviour (as mentioned above). Also schools which select all pupils by ability will only offer places to children who pass their test.

A school which has more ap plicants than places available must use its published oversubscription criteria or rules to decide who gets places (see Step 7).

So find out from the LA guide or the school how popular the school was last year and what rules it uses. Remember, numbers applying can change from year to year. Living in a catchment area does not guarantee a place, but if a school is not full, a child out of the catchment area may get a place.

Step 7: Check the admission rules

Admission rules (also called admission arrangements) can change from year to year and include the admission policy and oversubscription criteria. This can affect your chance of getting a place for your child. The school’s admission authority decides what arrangements to have, and says which children can be offered places. Check if there have been any changes to the admission rules in previous years which may affect your chance of a place.

The admission rules should be clear, fair and objective, and work for the benefit of all children including those with special educational needs. For most schools these admission rules are only used to choose between pupils if too many have applied for the size of the school. This means that if 50 pupils apply for a school with 40 places the criteria will be used to decide which 40 pupils get a place. If 40 pupils or fewer apply then all will get a place.

Fully selective schools can refuse pupils who do not pass the selection test even if they are not full.

All schools must give priority to children in public care. Faith schools can give priority to members of a faith or church. Schools that select by ability, or give priority to children with aptitude for a subject, should describe their tests in their admission arrangements. Interviews are not allowed.

Common oversubscription criteria are:

• Pupils in local authority care
• Pupils with a special social or medical reason for going to that school (generally only a small number will get places for these reasons)
• Pupils with a brother or sister at the school
• Pupils living in the school’s catchment area
• Pupils attending a linked primary school
• Pupils who live closest to the school

The order should be clear.

The school, or the admission department at the local authority, should be able to tell you how near the school parents had to live to get a place the previous year and other information about how places were filled. If you are worried that you live too far away, try to find out more. Ask the school if any children living in your street or further away were given a place last year. Every year is different but it can give you some idea of your chances. The LA’s guide should tell you the number of applications for places at each school last year and how many got places under each criteria. It should help you decide where you have a realistic chance of a place. For popular schools, where more children apply than there are places available, check the admission rules to see what your chances are – be realistic.

ACE advises

DO NOT waste a preference by applying for a school you have little chance of getting if you can only apply for a small number of schools.

Step 8: Be realistic

If after checking the rules you think that your child may not get a place at a school you like, think very carefully about your next step. Can you express a preference for any number of schools, or just one or two? Admission authorities must treat all preferences equally. This means they cannot give priority to a first preference application over a second or subsequent preference. Your order of preference will only be considered if you can be offered more than one of your preferences. Your local authority’s guide should explain this. It should give a name and details of someone to ask if you have more questions.

Are there other schools that you like where your child has a better chance of a place? Would it be better to apply to that school instead or as well? While you have the right to appeal if turned down for any of your preferred schools, most admission appeals are lost.

Step 9: Applying

Local authorities in England co-ordinate all admissions. You will be asked to name the local schools you like in order of preference on a single form and send the form to the local authority where you live. They will make sure that all your preferences are considered. For moving from primary to secondary, your child’s primary school may have a form for the local schools. There should be a place on the form to give your reasons for your preferences. If you have particular reasons for wanting a school or type of school, such as a faith school or single sex, say so here. Don’t forget to check the closing date. If you believe your child comes into a particular priority category, say so.

Where possible, provide proof such as a letter from a teacher, doctor or social worker who knows your child. Make sure that the letters include similar details to the ones you have written on the form. Faith schools may ask you to supply proof of religious commitment. They should make clear how you do this. Schools that select pupils either on their academic ability or on their aptitude in certain areas will have various ways
of deciding which children will be offered these places. If your child could qualify for a place at more than one school you will normally be offered the school you ranked highest.

Step 10: If you are unsuccessful

If your child is not offered a place at a school, you have the right to appeal. This is true whether you have applied at the normal time of entry or at another time. You can also ask to go on the waiting list if there is one.

You do not have to send your child to any school allocated to you but you must make sure that your child is at a school or is taught at home. If you teach your child at home, your local authority will check what you are teaching.

More help on applying for a school

From the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)

Schools Admissions Code 1.4 MB

Schools Admission Appeals Code of Practice 432 KB

From the Advisory Centre for Education

Appealing for a School

Special Education Handbook - covers choosing a school for a child
with SEN

ACE advice line: 0808 800 5793 or text ASKACE to 68808.

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