admissions for schools in another borough/ waiting lists

[katkit]

Hello,

I?m a bit confused with schools, I?d really appreciate some wisdom from anyone!

I live in Hounslow borough, close to the border with Richmond borough.

I like the look of schools in Richmond for my DD (dob March 2010) but am confused as to the system.

I suspect what will happen with school applications is I?ll apply for lots of schools and at best get offered one that is definitely ok but not incredible.

Would this plan be possible:

Hope to get into the ok school and accept that place.

Go onto a waiting list for a great school in Richmond borough and wait until a place becomes available.

I?m unsure if you can go on waiting lists for schools in another borough? I?m in Hounslow and the school I like is in Richmond and 2 miles away.

Also, has anyone got onto a waiting list and then got in?

Thanks for any advice?hoping for a glimmer or hope!

Yes you can apply to other Boroughs and stay on waiting lists. But... Richmond's schools (like the rest of sw london) are very over subscribed so if you are not really super close to them the place will probably never come up. There are kids in Richmond and Wandsworth who are without any school offers, there are more children within the borough than there are places. Plus there are always people moving into the area who will take priority and children who are in schools within the Borough also on the waiting list for different schools within the same Borough because they didn't get their first/second choise school etc. If I was you, I'd check out the catchment areas of places offered this year and think whether it's likely. If it helps we got an offer from our third choice in a neighboring borough after having been on their waiting list. It took till the summer but we got it eventually.

I am not in London, but I believe the system is a national one so it should be similar. Basically, you apply to your own LA/Borough using their form (online or on paper). Your details are referred to all the schools to which you have applied (a max of 3 where I live, it's more in other places).

The schools inform your LA as to whether or not they have a place available, and you are then offered the school you've given the highest priority to on your application. That's assuming that any of your choices do indeed have places!

You really need to look at your council's website - all the details will be there - and also at the website of the LA of any schools outside of your borough, where you'll find admissions criteria for those schools and details such as the furthest distance away that pupils have been offered places in previous years.

you are then offered the school you've given the highest priority to that has room I should have said.

Yes I am in Islington, and when applying for secondary school for dd, I lived at the north end of Islington bordering with the next borough, with a school 13 minutes walk away but in the next borough.

I filled in the Islington form putting the over.border school as my 1st choice and got it. I think they just liase with each other.

thanks all!

eeeek. i think my plan won't work because i'll probably never move up the waiting list as i live so far away. glad i asked...

thanks SchoolsNightmare . liek the name!