Do you have to apply for a school in your own borough/local council?

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Do you have to apply for a school in your own borough if your prefered school is in a different one? Living on the border between two boroughs, we are within a mile of two schools - one not very good in our own borough and one very good in another. Can we apply to the one in the other borough? This is first DC going to school so completely new to this and have no idea how allocation system works!

You apply to your borough council for a school place. You can name the school from the other borough as one of your preferences, including making it your first choice. You will be able to name at least 3 preferences. You should use all preferences and at least one of them should be a school where your child is very likely to get a place.

do look at the infomation about applications from both boroughs -and read it carefully

• as it may differ - I lived near 2 other authorities and one you put the preference on the applications where you live and one you didn't - that said in london I would imagine its is more intergreated. The main factors though should be distance and how many children apply- the application info will give you an idea of that -ie last years numbers etc - and do visit the schools before you decide - don't go just on reputation and/ or oftsted

That must have been a while ago. At least I hope it was. The Admissions Code is clear on this. You apply to your home LA and they must pass the information on to the authority responsible for the school. And there is a fully integrated system in London which is used by all the London boroughs.

nope last year - big LA as well not london through

I do get fed up with LAs that seem to think the rules don't apply to them. If a parent lost out through applying to their home authority for a school in another authority I would complain long and hard.

I thought it was a bit odd - didn't apply in the LA in the end though - but did apply in another LA - it was sort of intergrated - but I accepted a place in my LA and also got a place in the other LA as they didn't intergrate the acceptantances -

No, my DDs go to a school in a different borough to where we live. Like you we are on the border. You can apply online to the neighbouring borough as they won't automatically send you a form, but it may be worth applying to both schools just in case you don't get into your preferred school.

If you choose not to do that, then you need to inform your LA that you won't be applying for a school there. I did this and got a very snotty letter back! :)

Please, please by very careful when applying for school places. The rules are that you have to apply to the LA in which you live, but that you can apply for any school you wish. Read what the application book says for your LA.
However if you apply for three schools in another LA (or schools based on performance rather than locality) then you run a real risk of not getting allocated a place at any school for which you have expressed a preference. You should very seriously consider your local catchment school (assuming the LA has a system of giving priority for catchment school) as one of your preferences to ensure you have the best chance of getting a school place. As the birth rate is continuing to rise, places at primary schools are going to be more demand than this year.

Check that the LEAs have a joint arrangement. This should be in the Admissions booklet issues with the application. You can put a school in another LEA on the form (on-line or paper) BUT you need to return the form to the LEA in which you live. As distance is the main criteria for places for your first child it is worth doing if you are so close to the boundary.
On-line applications are fairly straightforward and you have the advantage of an email receipt listing all your choices.

i live on the borders of bexley borough and bromley borough would i get chislehurst school for girls or cleeve park both 1.5 miles but live on the edge of bromley borough but come under bexley council any sensible commen ts welcome

@Monkeys121 This thread is from 2011!!!

Better to start a new thread with the areas in the title.

yes monkeys123 you can apply for any school in London. Very common in London to go to school in neighbouring borough.