Applying for 2ndary school in other counties.

[Frikadellen]

I believe I know the answer to this question. However some confusion has been brought up since open evening last night at Oxted Secondary school (Surrey) The head in her talk said that if you did not live in Surrey you HAD to apply to Surrey to get into the school, not your own county.

As I understand it (and how it was with my older 3) you apply to your home county only.

I obviously now have friends worried about what to do.

Your understanding is correct OP - but check the admissions booklets of both authorities for advice. The Head hasn't explained this at all clearly!
You apply to your LEA. On the form it should have name of school ......... and then name of school LEA .........
Your LEA then passes on your child's details to the school's LEA who will decide if you child meets their criteria for a place.
If your child meets the criteria you receive the offer through your LEA.
The only thing to watch out is if the other council LEA has different admissions criteria to your own e.g. one may give priority to all siblings, another may only give priority to catchment siblings or one has a medical criteria and the other does'nt.
HTH

Yes you apply from your own lea: new.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/school-admissions/apply-for-a-school-place

However the pp is incorrect to think criteria can change depending on your lea - it is the school criteria you need to check.