Basic questions re schools

[Wildwaterfalls]

DD is only a baby but have started worrying about schools.

Our two local primary schools are quite good, but depending on the number of sibling places in the relevant year we may be just outside the catchment area for both! What happens then? Could you get sent to a school much further away?

If that happened, could we decide at that point to send her to a private school instead (assuming it is affordable)? Or do private schools have waiting lists she'd need to be on now? Or entrance exams?

Not familiar with the British system so would really appreciate advice. TIA

In theory you can get allocated a school that is a distance away. I don't know how often this occurs at primary level.

Re private schools, the application dates vary but roughly its usually about a year before the September of entry (putting down your child's name at birth belongs to a different era :) )

Some private schools are selective in that the child (and sometimes parents) are interviewed or tested or both. Others just require a cheque from you.

A lot of parents apply for both and make the final decision once the state school allocation is known

I have just done the application for DS to start state primary in September this year. The admission priorities are:

Looked after children (ie: foster children)
Children of parishioners (Our first choicde is Church of England aided)
Siblings
Home proximity to the school (fingers crossed as we are only 100m away, and none of the test!).
Private education is not an option for us.

Meant to say that, of all the people I know, only one had ever been allocated a school far away, and got a place locally after a term.

"putting down your child's name at birth belongs to a different era"
Not quite true there are a tiny handful out there that registration as soon as a child's taken its first breath is required. But generally most preps especially at 3/ 4+ may make claims on their websites etc about early registration but this is usually not the reality. Preps do vary considerably some go to 7/8+ (yr 2/3) yr 6 (11yrs old) and other go to yr 8 (13yrs old) some are barely any better than an equivalent good state primary others are in a different league altogether. IMO its worth looking at as many schools as you can even the ones you don't like the look of, the ones you have heard bad things about. Listen to everything that said, including other parents views, listen but try not especially in the begining to be over influenced by others decide what it is you want from education; pushy, relaxed, fussy uniform, no uniform sitting behind desks from reception, lots of extra curricular activities child care before and or after school etc etc, the more you look at the more the language talked e.g. phonics reading schemes etc and how in general schools are organised will make sense to you and then you will start to forming an idea of what you want.

Thank you very much all. That's really helpful. It can all be a bit daunting if you're not familiar with the system.

Fingers crossed there won't be too many sibling places in DD's first school year... I suppose on the flip side once she's in a school nearby any future DCs are likely to get a place at the same one.