If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, they may start school full-time in September 2025. This information e-booklet explains the admissions process for the first year of school (reception places). Please keep this e-booklet in a safe place as you will need to refer to it over the next year.
All schools use admission criteria (conditions) to decide which applications to accept and which to turn down. We explain the admission criteria for our faith schools (except for George Carey) on pages 25 to 32. For George Carey and all other Barking and Dagenham schools see pages 23 to 24.
No places are guaranteed and you must apply even if your child already has a place at the school’s nursery class. It is important that you read and understand the information in this e-booklet before you apply. If you don’t follow the process in this e-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. If one of your preferences includes a faith school (except George Carey) there are extra steps you must take if you apply under the school’s criterion.
You may also need to fill in extra forms (supplementary information forms) and documents if you apply for schools outside the borough. See page 14 for more details.
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The schools you apply for are your preferences – they are not your choices because we cannot guarantee everyone a place at any of the schools they have listed. For example, if everybody named the same school, we would not be able to increase the number of places there.
Instead, we otfer as many places as possible, based on the admission criteria, to those who make their application by the closing date. The full timetable of important dates is on page 40. You must return all applications and documents by the closing date, 15 January 2025.
Applications received after this date are late. These late applications are processed after applications that are on time. Late applicants are less likely to get a place at their preferred school. If we cannot offer your child a place at one of your preferences or you do not fill in and return your application form, and you live in this borough, we will give them a place in any school in the borough with a space.
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, see page 47.
PRINT AND KEEP THIS E-BOOKLET
Keep in a safe place as you will need
to refer to it over the next year.