If your child was born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, they may start school full-time in September 2013. This information booklet explains the admissions process for the first year of school (reception places).
All schools use admission criteria (conditions) to decide which applications to accept and which to turn down.
No places are guaranteed and you must apply even if your child already has a place at the school’s nursery class. If you don’t follow the process in this booklet, you put your chance of getting a place at your preferred school at risk.
To apply, you must use the common application form provided by the borough you live in and list up to six schools, no matter where those schools are located. All the councils will then use a computerised system to pass on application details. They will also co-ordinate offer of places and let parents know the outcome on 17 April 2013.
Some schools (within and outside the borough) will also need you to fill in and return a supplementary information form (SIF). Catholic schools will also require a third form, a diocese priest reference form (PRF).
We offer as many places as possible based on the admission criteria and whose forms and requested documents are returned by the closing date, 15 January 2013.
Applications received after this date are late, and we will not process them until after 17 April 2013, once we have dealt with the applications we received on time. By this time you will be less likely to gain a place for your child at your preferred school.
The School Admissions Team is happy to answer any questions you have about the process. If you need independent advice, you can contact the Family Information Service (FIS) Team.