How far is too far to get a place? And other questions...

[gourd]

There is an outstanding primary school 2.5 miles away from home (school 1). There is a good one (school 2) with outstanding features almost opposite our house and there is a third good school (school 3) about the same distance away as the outstanding one. If I put the outstanding one as 1st on the application form how likely are we to get a place there? We will be visiting all three schools before making a final decision, but in terms of distance to home, is 2.5 miles considered to be too far when there is one almost on your doorstep? I just have no idea about this, as everyone I know uses a school within a mile of their home, but there is only one good one that is very close to us, the other very close ones are not good schools according to Ofsted (Mostly 3s and even 4s on Ofsted reports)!

When (which year) do I need to apply to have a good chance? Does applying early actually make any difference? Daughter is only 16.5 MO at the moment. We may not use the attached pre-school nursery for schools 2 and 3 (there isn?t one for school 1) as this will mean changing childminders and when I last checked there wasn?t one I'd be happy with near either schools 2 or 3 (assuming they even had a place available then).

[BertieBotts]

It depends on the catchment areas, not purely on distance. I found this by googling but sometimes you will need to ask the school or the LA directly.

You need to apply in the September the year before the September your DD will start reception, so the September before she turns 4. It doesn't matter if you apply early, but applying late may cause problems. Most areas don't have feeder preschools any more, so it probablt won't affect that, but if you have a good chance of getting into the school it's a good idea as it will help her become familiar with the school and some of the other children may move up with her.

[Seeline]

It will also depend on what the intake is for each school - 1, 2 or 3 form. Bigger schools can have a wider catchment area.
Don't rely too much on the Ofsted rating - the difference between an outstanding and good school needn't be much - it depends which factors affected the final rating. Also it's a while before your DD will actually start and a lot can change in that time - when is each school next due an Inspection? Are the Headteachers likely to still be in place when your DD starts etc.
Gut feeling and what you feel will suit your DD is much more important IMO

[MegBusset]

Catchment depends entirely on where you live (densely populated or not), how big the intake is, how popular the school is, how many other decent schools are nearby, and can still vary widely from year to year depending on birth rate, sibling intake etc. The local authority should be able to give you distances for the last couple of years but I wouldn't set too much store by them - a lot could change before your DC goes to school.

In any case I would strongly advise checking out your local good school and if you're happy with it, go for that. Much nicer imo to be able to walk to school, better for health and the environment, and better socially for your DC as their schoolfriends will live nearby.

[Indith]

You will apply in the autumn of the year before she is due to start. Different areas have different deadlines, you will most likely find posters in GP clinics, libraries etc with the info on how to get packs. The schools will also have them.

Other areas may be different but I think that he way entry is doen is fairly standard, you will have the details with your application forms in any case. Applying early will make no difference, all the applications will be considered at the same time after teh closing date. Late applications will be considered after those submitted on time. Where you place the school on your list of choices will not affect your chances of getting in so don't try to be tactical just put them in order of preference. They will consider each school you apply for individually based on the entry criteria for that school. For a normal state school generally catchment area then outside catchment. Within each category there will be priority for siblings, statemented needs and if there are too many applications it will go to distance from school, for a church aided school it will be something like within parish, outside parish, other denominations, other faiths, no faith and again within each other those groups priorty for siblings and use distance as a tie breaker)

Organise visits in teh autumn of application, giving the new starters a little while to settle in so you can get a good feel for the schools and the staff. They will be more than happy to deal with your questions (and if they are not happy to then you don't want your child going there!).

[Pozzled]

You need to look at the LEA website. It will list exactly what the criteria are for each school, and under which criteria the last child was admitted last year. For an outstanding school, it is quite likely that only children inside the catchment area can get a place. Or if some outside the catchment area do get a place, it may only be those with siblings at the school. Your LEA should have details of the catchment areas as well.

Your child can start school in the september after they turn 4, and you won't need to apply until the Dec/Jan before that. You can't 'apply early' for a state school, although you may be able to put your name down on a list as being interested, and they could then let you know about any open days etc.

Don't forget though: a school can change a lot in a few years, especially if management changes. And OFSTED reports are only one way to judge a school, and not the most important IMO (and I've been a primary teacher for 8 years). I would look very closely at the good school near your house.

[dixiechick1975]

Don't rely on heresay - just because a neighbour's child hoes etc does not mean your DD will get in.

Catchments change, birth rates change, number of siblings/sibling policy can change etc.

[mummytime]

You need to: visit the schools, don't rely on Ofsted or gossip. If you are England, you need to find out the admissions criteria, which may vary from school to school, especially faith schools. There is no point in applying early, the real application is in the January of the school year when your child turns 4, do not miss this date. Under the present system (which I don't see changing) you can happily put your favourite school top, just make sure you do put the closest school somewhere in your choices (otherwise you might get a school that is both awful and a long way away).
The schools do not know which order you put them in, and can not turn away someone higher in the admissions criteria who placed then 3rd or 6th, in favour of someone who put them 1st. If they do so they are breaking the admissions code.

[gourd]

Thanks for your replies. It's hard to judge just from reports and I wasn't intending to only rely on those. I am in two minds about the "Outstanding" one anyway, as not only is it a good half hour walk away, but it's the opposite direction to work (assuming I'm still working in the same place) which would make in-car drop offs/pick ups awkward if not impossible as it's just off a massively congested road that has far too much traffic on it for a small B-road and takes an age to drive each way. I cant help thinking that we are ideally placed for the very good school almost opposite where we live, but I didn't want to just assume it's Ok for daughter to go there just because it would be really, really convenient for us. I do want to shop around before making a decision.

[prh47bridge]

I haven't read the entire thread so apologies if I repeat answers given by others.

The LA can't refuse to offer you a place at school 1 just because there are other schools nearer home. However, if there are a lot of applicants who live closer to the school than you it is unlikely you will get a place there. If you are in a rural area you may have a reasonable chance of getting into a school 2.5 miles away. If you are in central London it would be highly unlikely. Your LA should be able to tell you the distance for the last child admitted last year which will give you some idea of your chances.

Your daughter will be due to start in Reception the September following her fourth birthday. You must apply by 15th January in the year she will start school (assuming the date doesn't change). You will be able to apply for a few months before that but applying early makes no difference at all.