School choices - separated parents - help please

[TonbridgeDad]

Hi,

My son will enter Year 7 next September. He spends 50% of this time with his mum in Beckenham and 50% of his time in Tonbridge with me. He goes to primary school in Beckenham.

We are wondering whether we can submit two sets of choices - one for Beckenham and one for Kent? It doesn't seem so but I can't find anything online to confirm that.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks

I’m place marking - back in a second!

No, one form. I think with 50:50 you give the address he lives at most school nights.

TW2013 is correct. One form only, and address used should be the one where the DC spends most school nights (& usually expected to be where CB goes to too).

@prh47bridge I think this is one for you if you have time to comment - quick klaxon for your expert views!

Ah I see pps have already got to this - thanks all

And you have about 5 days left I think - so whatever happens get the form in on time!

If he genuinely spends his time 50/50, I would decide which school you both feel suits him best and then check which home is in the catchment for that school whilst also checking the journey from his other home.

No, you may not do this. One application to one LA only.

Bromley will only allow an application from the parent receiving or registered for Child Benefit. Kent want the address where the child sleeps for the majority of weekdays. That is not helpful if the child sleeps in Bromley for the majority of weekdays but the parent in Kent receives Child Benefit. If that is the situation you would need to contact both LAs and discuss it with them.

But, even if the parent in Bromley receives Child Benefit and the child sleeps in Kent most weekday nights, you can still only submit a single application. If you submit two there is a risk that the LAs will decide that both applications are fraudulent and withdraw any offers that are made.

Thank you @prh47bridge

@prh47bridge that different rule about Cb and nights of the week suggests that government should have required those rules to be joined up, surely?!

Thanks everyone. I suspected you couldn’t submit two forms (plus doesn’t really feel fair of you could).