Really stupid question but how do I get my daughter into a primary school - need your help

[Ragtaggle]

Ok - My daughter is nearly four but luckily wont have to go to school until she is five as she was born in October. But talking to other parents I'm starting to feel that I have been remiss in not really stressing about where she might go to primary school. (Many are now attending church to get their child in to the very good C of E primary nearby) I live in an inner london suburb where the schools are varied - some are great and some are appalling. But my question is this. How do I 'apply' to the state schools I like the sound of - do the council contact me or am I supposed to ring round? I quite want to approach the good state church school as I know they need a few secular pupils each year but have no idea what to do. Any answers gratefully received

most deadlines are October in the year before the child would start school, and you can do it online for a lot of authorities now.
Get a list of all your local schools and phone up, have a look around, look at the school's website. I'd do it during the summer term tbh, you don't want to be rushed into deciding where to go in Sept/Oct

and you're right, church schools have to take a percentage of children who don't practice their faith, but in reality, I do wonder how this is managed

Start by ringing your Local Education Authority - I'm in a London borough and my council has an education link on their website which gives you information on the different schools and the application process...some schools (often the church ones) are outside of this process and in that case it is up to you to contact the school direct and request an application.
In my area, application forms to start school in Sept 08 will be available October 07 and must normally be handed in by Nov/Dec 07. The local authority form will normally give you space to put up to 4 schools in order of preference will try to match you to the highest preference school that has an available place according to the school's list of requirements. You then get a letter about April/May telling you where you have been allocated a place, and a chance to stay on waiting lists for schools you missed out on etc.

my ds will start school september 08, when he is nearly 5, as he is a september baby. We can apply from Septem/Oct this year but the forms have to be returned by a date in February.

each school has an agreed number for faith and for catchment, 10% faith if is voluntary controlled, and can be all faith if voluntary aided (difference is historical depends who paid to build the school). The newer ones may have 25% non faith, all depends on the school and the area

Each LEA (local education authority, your local borough council) will have a set of clearly defined criteria which is used to allocate schools based on the preference expressed by the parents. Let's be clear that you cannot choose your DDs school. The criteria are along the lines of looked after children, siblings, distance between school and home. For faith schools there will be additional criteria based on living in the parish, being baptised in the faith, church attendance etc. This should all be on your Borough's website. It is all quite confusing. Do you know anyonein your area who has gone through the process, that you can chat to?

Meant to add, contact the faith schools now and ask to be put on their list to be sent the applicatipon form, because they generally have a separate form to complete in addition to the LEA one. You can also ask about how over-subscribed they get, whether they draw a catchment area, what is expected in terms of church attendance.

I would also check your local rules about faith schools needing a few secular pupils. My local CofE school doesn't have such a rule (and I'm also in a London borough). I would talk to the school secretary to get a realistic idea of your chances.The people you see suddenly finding their faith wouldn't have done so if they could have also got a secular place at the CofE?

I'm assuming your child is 3.5 now. so you're looking at applications for Sept 2008. A lot of parents will try to visit schools from this point on - for these visists you need to phone the schools directly and they will give you available dates, which will let you look round and ask questions. There are obvioulsy also OFSTED reports and league tables, but I really think that you need to visit a school.

Your LEA website will have a list of schools, and may even give you ideas about how many applied last year (to give you an idea of over and under subscribed schools).

The onus is strictly on you to do the running, though the council should help by having posters up in obvious places (library, health clinics, playgroups etc). You will apply to the LEA with a list of the schools that you want to apply for in order of preference (though locally we give this application to the first choice school, and as stated faith schools have additional forms where you demonstrate your good deeds!). The council will then apply their admission criteria. Applications are usually made between Sept and Dec 9but vary with each LEA), and parents typically find out in March (though again this varies, some find out earlier, others later). If you tell us which borough you are in I'm sure that someone can help you with the specifics.

which borough do you live in .. if you're in Southwark then you should have filled out an application by end January for next year's admissions .. contact your council and find out

you need to visit all the schools and talk to the heads and do a tour to see which one you like

if you're happy to post where you live then I'm sure there will be people here who know the schools

I have no idea why I thought you were in southwark though .. I think it was the 'inner london suburb' [girn]