Are primary schools allotted based on distance from the house?

[estebancolberto]

There are two schools near our house in London. A "good" one that is 0.3 miles from our house and "outstanding" one that is 0.7 miles from our house. Our house is in the catchment area for both. So, will we be able to get a space in the "outstanding" one?

You need to look at the admissions criteria for both schools.

I recall a friend who lived really close to the good school

Within the advertised distance - in a straight line , across the big park

But the school actually did distance along the road as their criteria - and it was much further to walk around the park than through it

So as others have said you need to check the details for the school

It all depends on each school’s admissions criteria and living closer to one, doesn’t mean you will get in.

Depends on how over subscribed they are and what their admissions criteria are.

You need to look at the catchment criteria. If the intake is 60 kids, and you live in a built up area, it could be the 60 spaces are taken up by kids with higher priority than yours (as laid out in the criteria, likely to be siblings, and then those that live closer than 0.7 miles). When we were looking at secondary schools were 3 miles from one but in catchment, and it's in a built up area so only tends to need to go within 1 mile to fill up its catchment spaces, even though we are technically in catchment we didn't stand a chance.

I think you can ask for the data on how far out they have historically placed kids, if it's not already published online.

*admissions criteria, not catchment criteria

I think you put down your order of preference and you'll be allocated your first choice if you meet the criteria more than other people. Apart from siblings/staff children/ehcp etc the main criteria is distance. you can check the council website for the last distance they admitted from over the years to get an indicator.

Most of London doesn't have catchments, and it's all done on distance.

But for the few schools which do (criteria will be along the lines of "siblings in catchment, then all other catchment, them other siblings, then all others) then you stand a chance, but if the school tends to fill up with "other catchment" at about the 0.5 mile mark, then no you won't get a place. Living in catchment isn't always enough, you also need to look at the actual footprint of "greatest distance offered" to assess your chances.

In London, you get 6 slots on your farm. So put the school you like best at the top, even if it's a long shot. You have plenty of spaces left for "bankers" (schools you are as sure as you can be you'd get an offer from).

It doesn't matter where on your form you list each school, as admissions must, by law, be on an equal preference basis. So whether or not you get an offer from the school you put in second place must be based solely on how well you fit its criteria (where is is on the form is not a permitted criterion)

The only time your preferences are taken in to account is if you qualify for more than one school. In which case the single offer you receive will be for the one you listed higest on the form.

Depends.

In London distance is normally the 3rd to 5th criteria on what child are selected on.

However if the 0.7 mile away school only has 30 spaces per year then you are unlikely to get in.

Our school is filled within 0.25 miles around it due to the way the housing in the area is built, so at 0.7 miles you have no chance. however, its a single form intake and down the road is one with a 3 form intake which had a wider intake area obviously.

Shortest distance as the crow flies in some cases.

If you prefer the outstanding school, you put it first on your list and put the good school second.

Assuming the criteria is fairly standard and they have say 60 places. They fill the first 25 with looked after children/siblings etc and then they have 35 places left to fill, the 35 children who live closest to the school will be offered those places.

Some years there may be loads of children living closer than you and some years there may be fewer so it’s luck of the draw whether you will be close enough. Many popular schools in London never go out as far as 0.7 miles to offer places but if your local school usually goes out as far as 1.2 miles for example, you can feel more confident.

Assuming you don’t get a place in the Outstanding school, you may be among the closest in the Good school and if you’ve put that second you’ll be offered a place there. There’s a small possibility in a high birth rate year you aren’t close enough to either school or to any of your other four choices and then you get offered a random school (or worse no school). Which is why it’s suggested you put a local ‘bad’ school low on your list because a local bad school is better than a far away bad school.

Hi Op, I've just been through this application process in London for the 2023 reception intake.

The criteria for the places follow this order

1. Looked after children
2. Children with siblings already at the school
3. Distance from the school

The distance will change year on year depending on number of siblings. Sometimes there is a year with lots for example, but the following year not so many.

If you like the outstanding school you can put it first on your list even though it's further away, if a place comes up you'll get it. Put the good one down too as a back up as you're more likely to get this one. Even if you accept the place at the good school you can go on a wait list for the school higher up on your list.

Make sure you fill your list with 6 schools, don't leave spaces as then you could end up being allocated an undersubscribed school.

I would strongly advise not to make decisions about schools based on Ofsted reports. They are just one part or the picture. When I looked at schools I much preferred a 'good' school to an 'outstanding' one close to me. The good one has a much happier atmosphere and the children seemed more engaged. Remember also that Ofsted ratings can move up and down and some reports are now really out of date.

You could have a look at an app like locrating to get an idea of how likely you are to be within the distance.

As others have said, it depends on the admission criteria. Do not rely on @coffeelover85's post. Whilst some schools use those admission criteria, they are far from universal in London primary schools. The schools concerned should have their admission criteria on their websites.

You need to check the admissions criteria for the schools you’re interested in.

Whether you get into a particular school will depend on how oversubscribed it is, and what the oversubscription criteria is.

@coffeelover85 some of the schools I looked at and applied to had more than that including:

• EHCP,
• Children of staff,

Before distance.

Also some of the schools distance criteria included a parent having a local business close to the school.

I actually met some people whose children went to particular primary schools because they run a business with an address near the school.

It's been a while since I read the criteria for my local schools because my children are older but as others have said, you need to look into the specific criteria.
Our number 1 was looked after children.
Number 2 was SEN I think.
Siblings came lower down, as did distance but still fairly near the top.
Having said that, I know someone who had a DD at our local secondary school and yet her SEN sibling didn't get a place!
The mum appealed and he now has a place but it was very stressful and confusing for her.

Check as well for religious criteria. If either school is a Church school (CofE or Catholic) Church goers may be prioritised, followed by other religious, then no religion.

@rainbowstardrops the school has to be able to meet the needs of a child with an EHCP.

Unfortunately some stay they can't when parents approach the school, while others say they no longer can once the child is at the school for various reasons including a change of head teacher.

Depends on school.

Ours is LAC or previously LAC
Religion
Siblings
Teachers children
Distance

They rarely get as far down as distance but it is a single form entry

This is what I do for a living and please ignore anyone on here who tells you what the schools will rank based on.

We have a high number of primary schools in our London borough and they don't have the same admissions criteria.

Firstly, any church school, academy, free school etc can set their own arrangements - so they may different.

Of the schools that we are the admission authority for, we have one main set of arrangements that apply to most schools but a further three sets that apply to a few schools that include catchment areas - so there is no simple answer for our authority and I know what I am talking about.

Speak to your admissions team They will be able to tell you the arrangements for the schools you are interested in. They will be able to calculate the distances that will be used and will be able to tell you how far they have offered in previous years - this will give some idea as to whether you are likely to be offered a place.

We had very similar, only difference was neither was in our catchment area (our catchment school is actually further away!!) and we didn't fall under any of the admissions criteria - despite this I still applied for them both and got the outstanding school which was our first choice. I'd say apply, but know that you may not get them if you do not meet the criteria

Also look at previous admission distances. Catchment is often much bigger. So much homework to do.,

Don’t forget that you can also apply for schools in other boroughs, so check out nearby schools that are technically in neighbouring boroughs, you might find one that you like , and that is close enough to get to. You use the same application form for out of borough schools, the admissions people sort out the tricky stuff!

0.7 miles wouldn't get you into the outstanding secondary here, let alone a primary.
But, there is no harm in putting it first choice if that is the school you prefer - it doesn't lessen you chances of getting the closer school.@