retired_hinchmaa

My daughter turns 4 in october and we are due to apply for her primary school.

Thing is, although the school we want her to join is closer to our address, the catchment school is different.

How does the school admission process work?
Any advice in getting your child into your choice would help as well.

retired_lbherrera

Even if the catchment school is different (Being a secondary school pupil I know this) , you can still apply for the closer school and then appeal if you are turned down on the basis of travelling time. :thup:

Good luck

retired_hvporter

Which LEA are we talking about here, bam?

retired_janearific

Well each local authority has its own set of admissions criteria that they use, and a lot use "catchment areas" as part of that criteria. You could check out their website as that should include information on how to apply and what their criteria is (may not be available till early September though as thats when the new round of Admissions applications start.

Which Local Authority are you living in ??

retired_bigpete

Some schools have their own criteria they follow on admissions but a lot of it is down to the policy of LEA(Local Education Authority)
Most schools allow children to join depending on what sort of school it is
ie. Catholic schools allow catholic children first then all other baptised children then any other religion and then any unbaptised children.
We put our son down for st annes school where i live and he got in no problem and because he was there all my other children when they goto school are guaranteed a school place at the same school

retired_bigpete

hope this can help

retired_hinchmaa

Hello, yeah Southend-on-sea.

retired_janearific

Southend Borough Council School Admissions

Here you go BamBamBam, should give you plenty of info on Southends Admissions policies etc and the application process.

retired_janearific

Just looking through the admissions criteria from last year it looks like you will be in the last criteria for admissions. If the school you have applied for doesn't fill up you should be ok. However, should the school fill up with preferences and become oversubscribed you may be struggling to get a place.

I would suggest putting it down as your first preference and see what happens. As of this year all local authorities need to operate an "equal preference" policy, so if you put your preferred school as a first choice, then your local catchment school as one of your other choices, it should near as possible ensure you a place at your local school if you weren't succesful in getting your preferred one.

As someone mentioned earlier, you always have the appeals process to fall back on as a last resort if you dont get your preferred school.

retired_hinchmaa

The school which is actually closer is Heycroft.
Which is the 4th best in the area. I've also visited the school and i really like it.

Eastwood Jnr is the "Catchment" school.

Its not great.

League table.

I don't want her to go to Eastwood. Its poor.

If it goes down to appeal, has anyone have any experience/tips in this matter. Thanks.