Hampshire / Surrey

[Rabbitit]

I am getting very confused about the system . Am trying to apply for primary schools for my DD . My home belongs to Surrey cc, I just found that the closest primary school to home actually belongs to Hampshire Cc. So does it mean that I should stick to applying the schools under Surrey cc despite the school.closest to home is under Hampshire Cc? If anyone could shed some light on this system would be great !

We are probably in the same area, do you have any schools in mind? Most have different policies for applicants depending on if you live in Hampshire/Surrey and can also provide you with assistance in applying, if you go and visit the school they can also give you more information then. For example one of our local schools takes direct applications from those in Hampshire but if you are in Surrey (even though it's on the border) you have to apply via the council.

Eg when I look at st Peter's Catholic in Aldershot , I only just know that it's in Hampshire instead of Surrey. The school told me that I would be on even lower priority on the waiting list if I am on the waiting list ! So I am wondering if I should only put the schools on Surrey council list only into the form? (Despite that the Hampshire one is quite close to home )

Should be St Joseph Catholic

You can apply to any school via the LA of your home address, ie. Surrey CC. There is usually a paragraph in the applications booklet about this. Whether you would get allocated a place depends on the admissions criteria and if/how oversubscribed it it. The system is that you are offered the highest preferred school for which you qualify for a place. If, for example, the RC schools prioritises residents of a particular parish, attendees of the local church ahead of distance or siblings, you may not qualify if you are under the distance criteria alone. Previous year's admissions under each criteria should show how many were admitted and the furthest distance.

You should apply using the Surrey CC form.

However you can include schools in Hampshire, and put treat them the same as Surrey school in ordering your preference. Which school you get offered just depends on which is the highest one on your list you qualify for.

The school told me that I would be on even lower priority on the waiting list if I am on the waiting list
This is wrong and illegal and could be grounds for appeal - so I would confirm it in writing (send an email if necessary). That is if it is based purely on CC grounds, it might be different on Parish or Deanery grounds, which do not usually follow the county lines.
It is not the first time I have heard someone in a school say something which is wrong concerning admissions.

If you are Catholic - then you will almost certainly be higher up the admission criteria than a lot of people in Hampshire (or Surrey).

I'm in Surrey CC but applied for a secondary for DD in London as first choice. I just added the details for all the schools regardless of area on the form and submitted.

We've since had confirmation from the school that her application is in the system (banding tests) so it seems to work fine.

In London, cross-borough applications are the norm in border areas and so councils are very used to dealing with it.

Thanks a lot for your replies. Feel more relieved knowing more about it! Indeed the staff replied me by email saying I will be on lower priority given the different cc !