a few state school questions

[sameyeam]

Ladies,

Still trying to wrap my head around the State system in the UK as we will be moving in June.

Could you answer these questions for me?

my DD's will be in Y1 and 3's nursery in September.

1. Let's say we move to the London Borough of Barnet, and complete and in-year application for our eldest. They can send her to any school that has room in the borough...even if we live next to a school and it's oversubscribed, correct?

2. So, then, my next question is, if they can send her across town, can they also send her to a CofE school or a Catholic school? Or will they just send her to any state school that has no religious affiliation that has a vacancy?

3. Can they send her across boroughs? For example, there is nothing in Barnet, so they send her to Camden?

4. Lastly, my 3 year old who would be ready for nursery...does getting a spot for her in a state primary with a nursery(3-11) work similarly...they can send her across town or not give her a place at all because she's a 3?

Thanks for clearing this up.

1 Technically yes but you can go on waiting lists for preferred schools and short distance may place her high up. If your dd turns 5 by Easter she should be "in education" here in June/July but places at a different school may come up by September.
2 Could be any school but in practice C of E and Catholic schools are often the ones oversubscribed
3 Not sure but suspect yes if there are really no vacancies within borough (and you can apply for schools beyond too).
4 State nursery places are allocated differently to Reception (aged 4) and you may yet arrive in time to apply for September 2012 entry, or you can use the funding for 3 and 4 yr olds at a private nursery/preschool which will allocate on first come first served basis (you can put her name down asap even if not yet resident). Attendance at a school nursery does not guarantee a school place there the following year, the separate application procedures and deadlines, for Nursery and Reception admissions, will be on the Borough(Local Authority) website.

hth

3 Yes

Apart from that agree with LIZS.