Faith schools

[MyGutsyMaker]

Have been overseas now for 3 years but now returning. Is it very difficult to get 2 children back into the 'old' church school now as admission in year rather than a new starter. Are there any concessions made for returning children back into their old school. As a faith school if there was a place for one and no the other would a concession be made? Any experiences here would be most welcome. Thank you.

You need to look at the particular school’s admission criteria

As above. Go on the schools website and find their criteria, each is different

how important is it to have an address in the area of the school you are applying for ?.... If you have recently returned and are staying with relatives?

It depends. If they have places, and you can take them up immediately wherever you are living, then it doesn’t matter where you live (eg when moving house, DS was given a place in a primary with spaces from our old address. His first day was the day we moved).

If they don’t have space immediately and so you need to be on a waiting list, that list is held in oversubscription criterion order eg faith, sibling, distance etc. Depending on the school, distance may make the difference between you getting an occasional place which comes up, or it going to another child in the list who lives closer.

You cannot generally be given a place if you are still abroad, though, as it is seen as unlikely that you will take up the place within the required time (usually no more than 2 weeks from being told of the place; may be less - check local regulations for ‘in year applications’)

No concessions are made for them being former pupils. Places will be offered in accordance with the published admissions policy for the school. If there is a vacant place then you should be offered it regardless of where you are living as long as you have applied honestly, I.e. not providing a false address etc.

If one child starts it may help the second child gain a place if they use sibling priority in their admissions policy.

If you are living with relatives, then you can use their address for application. As it is a faith school, you may need to fill in a form related to your religious practise.

Basically there are 2 scenarios:

1. School has places - you should get a place as soon as you are in the country and maybe before if you have firm travel plans
2. If they don't have places then your position on the waiting list will depend on how well you meet the admissions criteria. Depending on the school, this may be primarily faith based but is likely to have some distance element.

Unfortunately if the school is full, they won't create extra spaces. If there is a space for 1 child, they won't create a space for the other, although they will likely move up the waiting list as a sibling. They will offer places at schools with spaces, not necessarily the same one. You can appeal if you don't get places, but that's still fairly tough to win, and pretty much impossible if a child is in infants.