How we allocate primary school places

What happens next after you have applied to primary school

The aim of the school admissions system is for all parents to receive a single offer of a school place, which will be sent out to you on 1 May 2009, or available online from this date if you applied online. The offer you receive will be the best that can be made from the schools for which you applied and met the schools' admissions criteria. 

The admissions authority for each school (the local authority for community schools, the board of governors for voluntary aided schools) must still publish their admissions criteria. In cases where a school is oversubscribed, these criteria must be applied to decide who can be offered a place. If, after the admissions criteria have been applied, your child is considered eligible for a place at more than one school, you will be offered a place at the school you have ranked the highest on your application form. 

What happens when too many people apply? 

Every school has a ‘standard' or set number of children it admits in any year, which is decided in accordance with government criteria. The local authority and all schools are required by law to ensure that there are no more than 30 pupils in each class for children aged five to six and six to seven (infant classes). 

Most schools will have places for all the children whose parents have expressed a preference on their application for those schools. If there are more preferences expressed than places, priority will be given according to the schools' admissions criteria.

Admissions criteria for community primary schools

In community primary schools, preference will be given to children in the following order: 

• Children in public care (‘looked after' children) and children who have a priority need, as defined by the Children Act 1989, or have a professionally-supported exceptional educational, medical or social need for that particular school, or a statement of special educational need that names the school under the terms of the Education Act 1996. (*see note 1) 

• Children who have a brother or sister already in the school and who would be there at the time of admission. (*see note 2). If there are more children with siblings in the school than places available, priority will be given to those children with siblings who live nearest to the school at the time of admission. (*see notes 2 & 3) 

• Children living nearest to the school at the time of admission. (*see note 3)

*Notes: 

1 If you think your child has an exceptional educational, social or medical need for a particular school, your case must be supported by documented evidence from a doctor, health visitor, social worker or other medical professional, which must be submitted at the time of your original application. You will need to show why your preferred school is the only school that meets your child's social or medical need. The decision as to whether your child qualifies on medical or social grounds is made by the local authority. 

2 Siblings refers to all blood, half, step, adoptive and foster brothers and sisters who live at the same home address. 

3 Distance is measured by the shortest walking route from the school's main entrance via public rights of way. Journeys by car or public transport do not count. Distance is calculated using a computerised geographic information system.

Late applications 

Community primary schools 

Applications received after the closing date of 9 January 2009 will be regarded as late. The local authority as the admissions authority for community primary schools will accept late applications only if they are late for a good reason. Examples include: 

• when a single parent has been ill for some time or has been dealing with the death of a close relative  
• a family has recently moved into the borough or is returning from abroad (proof of ownership or tenancy of a property within the borough will be required in these cases).              

Other circumstances will be considered and each case decided on its merits. 

Voluntary aided primary schools 

The governors, as the admissions authority for voluntary aided schools, will decide whether or not to accept late applications and their decisions will be made in accordance with their published arrangements for dealing with late applications.

Can I appeal if my child is refused a place? 

If you are refused a place at one or more of your preferred schools, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 gives you the right to appeal against the decision. For community primary schools you need to appeal by 22 May 2009 - read the information on our website about school admissions appeals.