When to apply & how many can you apply to?

[LadyOfWaffle]

I have just been on the website for the Primary School I wanted to send DS to - the list of criteria is pretty scary in itself! Firstly, when do I apply? By the looks of it, you can only apply (online only possibly?) from November to Jan. DS will be 5 in March 2011. Also, how many can you apply to? I can't see him getting in as he was baptised in a church in the next town and not their one and we live about 6 miles away. Between us and that school there is a few primary schools (non Catholic, or C of E) and one Catholic which is about 2 miles away, but it's quite down the league tables. I never knew it was such a minefield!

[LadyOfWaffle]

Oh, it's 3.9 miles away, not 6 ish.

[Twiglett]

if he's 5 in march 2011 then his academic intake year is sept 2010 - july 2011 and you would have to apply bfrom november 2009 to jan 2010

here you can put down 5 schools

you need to visit all the schools .. league tables, are IMHO, fairly bollocks .. when you visit you can ask them what they think are the chances of you getting in

Do you relaly want your child going to a religious school? I don't know your level of religion

[mummyeme]

Hi,
Here you can choose 3 schools in total. Hopefully the system may change but unless you have a sibling here there is no chance of getting a place at a school you want e.g. one of the more popular has 27/30 places filled with siblings. Just be prepared that you may have a tricky job but it would totally depend on where you live. Definitely fill up all the options on the application form too, else you may very well end up with a school you don't want like I have.

[LadyOfWaffle]

Thanks - so roughly 3-5, I guess my local council wesbite should say. I am really keen for him to go to a Catholic School, it's not a definate requirement as there is only 2 in the area, but I would put them above 'better' non Catholic schools. I read about the sibling thing, it's about a level 2 or 3 I think, I think only children in foster care are above siblings. I thought you had to apply early, my mum's been banging on saying her next door neighbour had her DS down from birth, maybe she is getting confused with nursery?

[LadyOfWaffle]

Just checked it out, can apply for 3. Do you know if you are guaranteed one of those 3?

[IdrisTheDragon]

With state schools there is a time when you can apply for admission; generally in the autumn before they start going ie Autumn 2009 in your case.

DS's school has an informal system whereby children can start going there the term after they are 4, for mornings only and start school full time the term they are 5. For that we can apply from when they are 2 (DD will be 5 in September 2010 and will go there in January 2010, part time).

[IdrisTheDragon]

You aren't guaranteed one of those 3 - you can express a preference but depedning on numbers at different schools may be allocated one somewhere else.

[LadyOfWaffle]

I read something about then starting mornings if they are a certain age, then going full time from the January - I guess I need to see if my 'top 3' do that. I guess I am quite lucky because our very local primary although the Ofsted report was abit iffy (bit derogatory actually) it's right up in the league tables which accounts for something. And that's about a 3 minute walk. SO I guess worst case senario could be worse... I can see why people make such a fuss and move etc. now! I didn't 'get it' before!

[LadyOfWaffle]

Alot round here are Church of England - can they make you send your child there? Not that I am religious equivelant of racist or anything, I just think it'll get very confusing.

[LadyOfWaffle]

Primary School will admit up to 30 children in the school year 2007/2008 who will become 5 years of age on or between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008. Children will be admitted at the start of the year in which they reach 5 years of age on a full time basis if their birthdays fall in the autumn or spring terms. Children born after Easter (summer born children) will be offered morning places only in the autumn term and full time places from January of the year in which they are 5 years of age. In the case of siblings whose birth dates fall either side of the cut off point for admission children will be ranked according to age. The parent/guardian/carer has the right to defer entry for their child until his/her statutory start date within the above academic year.

So, errr... DS is 5 March (late march, poss. after Easter) 2011... so thats school year 2010/2011, so I can apply late 2009/early 2010 and he will start just mornings Sept. 2010. I think??