Reception applications - school not showing on list

[Squellyolwelly]

Morning,

Not sure if anyone can help, I'm finally getting round to my sons reception application for next September, and the first choice of school we would like is not showing up on the list of primary schools.

We are outside of catchment, we are on the border of 2 different LA but fall into the one the other side - but I work over the road from this school and its much more convenient all round, plus my sons cousin attends this school and I do drop off and pick up for her a couple times a week.
The school itself said they can't see any reason we wouldn't get a place as they are never full (although they can't guarantee it as it's not their decision) and the school is definitely one that can be applied for outside of catchment. Other local schools from this LA are showing on the list, just not this one.

I'm going to phone the council about it when they re-open after new year, but does anyone have any idea why this wouldn't be showing up please?

Have you gone on the LA website that the school falls under. It may only be under that one. Give that a try and apply that way.

You need to apply within the LA you reside. Usually you can apply for cross border schools and your LA will liaise with the other re a offer.

Can you just check that you using the application form and not appeal form. Sounds stupid but it's a common mistake. The appeal form will only show those schools that are your LA and not cross border.

Failing that give them a call, they should be open over the Christmas period or you could email and see if someone picks it up.

If it's primary you have until the 15 Jan to apply

Have you checked you are definitely spelling the school correctly?

Are you using the correct name for the school?
There is a school round here that is known as one thing but officially changed its name to something else a few yews ago. Everyone still uses the original name to refer to it in general conversation.

Thanks all. I’m definitely applying under the LA we live in, and I’m definitely spelling it correctly.
I spoke to the headteacher a while ago and mentioned where we live and she said it shouldn’t be a problem providing they aren’t over subscribed (which never happens). A friend of ours also teaches there and can’t find anything to suggest it can only be applied for under the LA it falls under.
one of the over subscription factors is outside of catchment area so I would have thought i could apply for it.

I’ve enquired online to my LA and will give them a call as soon as

@Squellyolwelly you probably need to apply to the LA that the school is under, couldn't tell from your post if that is the same LA that you live in? I'm in Wales so possibly the system is different but as an example I have applied for my local schools under my LA but there is another school under a neighbouring LA that I wanted to apply to so I had to create an account on that LA school portal to apply to that spefic school as it wouldn't show under my LA. Hope that makes sense and maybe helps in some way!

When we applied to a school that was out of our area, we needed to do so on a paper form - it didn’t show up on the online system.

This form still went in to our local LA, and they passed it on.

I think paper form is the way I’ll have to go! Thanks everyone 🙂

If it isn’t showing for you online you may need to fill out a paper application but check with your LA what they suggest.

We have this. It's called (made up) St John's and is in Chubbington. You walk past it and it's got "ST. JOHN'S - CHUBBINGTON" the website is www.stjohns-chubbington.county.sch.uk.

But, it's never ever ever under St John's anywhere. You get St John's - Abbington, St John's - Bibbington, St John's - Dabblington etc

It's always under some like "Voluntary Aided School of St John's in the Woods by Hearthlingbury and Slocombe adjacent of Lower Chubbington"

Is there a way of searching by postcode instead of typing in the name? It may well have a different full name like @fanaticalfairy describes. Our LA allowed us to list schools from all over the country on its online form, but others may be different and (as you've acknowledged) may require a paper application instead - which seems like a pain, particularly when it’s getting close to the deadline!

Hi all, thanks for your help!

update - I sent the online enquiry to my LA and they have come back to say they've updated the system and added the school I wanted to the list! So applied online no issue now!