Applying for child's place at C of E primary school - help please!

[Dominique07]

I wonder if anyone can help me?

DS is 2 and I went to local C of E primary school with good reputation to ask about applying for places. Apparently DS should have gone to church at least fortnightly for 2 yrs prior to attending nursery - we have just about got 2 yrs. I have been to a different church from our local with relatives a few times, but will now start attending the local.

Should I attend church for a few months before waiting to ask for a reference or should I try to get my application into school ASAP?

[Dominique07]

Should i just hang onto my application form for now and try to get to the local church each week? Has anyone else done this and does it usually mean DC gets a place!?!?!

[aideesmum]

Hi. Is it voluntary aided or voluntary controlled? My ds got into the local CofE voluntary controlled primary and I've never been to church. If voluntary aided then church going is a must.

[susiey]

you need to attend the church for a bit before the vicar will give you a reference or what ever it depends at what point they need you vicar to have signed a form is that on the initial form?

how oversubscribed is the school?

[Wheelybug]

if your ds is only 2 you won't be able to apply yet. You apply in the autumn term before they start,

[mazzystartled]

some schools allow you to put in a frm registering interest

the official applications process will be run by your LEA and you will need to apply the academic year in which your child turns 4.

it is worth looking up on the LEA website they will publish entrance criteria for all schools. it might not make any difference which church you go to, or they may prioritise children who attend the associated church.

[Dominique07]

OK thanks, it seems my application is for a nursery place which is for the term before he turns 4, then I can apply for a primary place:
On the application form there is attached a Clergy form and they prioritise chn from the local associated church.

I think it must be oversubscribed - I can't imagine all the locals attending church at least fornightly early Sunday morning!

[Dominique07]

aideesmum - do u like the C of E school, if you yourself do not go to church? I'm not exactly the biggest fan of the church but I did go to a C of E primary myself and the teachers seemed good.

[primarymum]

crikey, if you want to get into my Cof E primary school, you just turn up on the doorstep and we drag you in!

[aideesmum]

Dominique07 - I absolutely love the CofE primary my ds goes to. He only started full time in reception last week but did attend mornings from Easter. I wish I had gone to that school when I was a child, not that my school was bad

[Acinonyx]

Dd has just started at our local c of e primary and we never go to church (card carrying atheists, both of us ). Dh was a buit suspicious but I went to a c 0f e primary myself and came out unscathed. We actually move to this village for the better schools - c of e schools are often amongst the best.

Now we are starting I do balk a bit at the Goddishness of it all and wonder how I will survive the psa without totally offending anyone...

[pop1973]

Hi, normal admissions policy is that you have to attend on a regular basis. They normally like you to attend as a family on a monthly basis to the family communion. When you go once a month make it know to the vicar that you have been - by having a little chat with them at the end of the service - so they remember you.

Ask you local admissions department of the council for details of how you apply at the beginning of the Autumn term - a year before you need the place.

The criteria for places normally varies - they usually do it on: sibilings, how close you live to the school are you in the parish and if you are church going yourself.

Ask the school - when you should be getting your child down and if they have an admissions policy for you to look at.

[ninah]

voluntary aided - church is not a 'must'
unless, I assume, there is competition for places
I certainly never set foot in one if I can help it, our school happens to be v.a. but I like the local community and want to stay within it