Guildford Schools

[MumofSHCW]

Please could someone tell me how primary and secondary school places are allocated in Guildford. Is it through catchment area?

Many thanks!

Mainly yes, although some are on church attendance etc. Can you give specifics of which schools? The council website and schools admissions pages should make it clear.

There are no specific catchment areas as such, but generally schools in Guildford/Surrey are allocated based on nearest school to home - this will usually be the top criteria after EHCPs, Looked after children, siblings.
The Catholic schools (and some C of E) have a church criteria which will come before distance

Surrey School Admissions website is helpful and you can check the admissions criteria for each school on there. You can also see how places were allocated in previous years which will give you an indication of how close to the school you need to live to get a place - although past years can only be a guidance, not a guarantee :-)

Happy to help further if there are specific schools you are interested in - I live locally :-)

Hello,
we are living in France. we are moving back to the UK for i have taken a job near the university of surrey area at the end of this year. I have two boys 13 and 9 year olds. i know we have to apply for in year admission for schools, but any ideas on how i should go about it, in terms of time to apply and distance to work/house/school...i greatly appreciate any information. and of course, where should i look for houses? thank you very much.

The Surrey County Council website has a School Admissions section that gives details on the in-year admissions procedure:

www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/admissions

The immediate area for Surrey University is the Onslow Village area, served by Queen Eleanor's primary school and Guildford County Secondary school. The County school is an outstanding school, popular and heavily subscribed: it specialises in music.
You might prefer to live a bit further away from the university and I think Merrow, Burpham, Pewley Down are the more expensive areas; Park Barn and Bellfields are the cheaper, council estate areas.

Further afield are the villages and smaller towns: Shamley Green, Artlington, Peasmarsh, Chilworth, Bramley, Farncombe. They are all the University side of Guildford and a fairly easy commute.

Posting on the local board, if you haven't already done so, will probably give you more information on the town and where best to live:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/local/guildford

Thank you Tanith....i shall find out more about those areas to live.