How we allocate primary school places

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 18 April 2012. If you apply online the offer information is available to you earlier: you can view it online from the evening of 18 April, but only 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, free schools and academies) must publish their admissions criteria. Our community schools' criteria are shown below, but for voluntary aided schools, free schools and academies, you should get copies of the admissions policies from the schools themselves. It is really important that you check the criteria for any school you are considering - in cases where a school is oversubscribed, these criteria will be used 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). 

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

Admissions criteria for community primary schools

If there are more preferences expressed than places in the school, places will be allocated in accordance with the following criteria, in order of priority, to:
1. Children In public care (those looked after by a local authority under section 22 of the Children Act 1989).
2. Children defined as being in priority need within the categories of need defined by the Children Act 1989 or as having an otherwise professionally supported exceptional education, medical or social need for a particular school (see note 1).
3. Children who have a brother or sister already in the school and who will be attending that school at the time the child for whom you are applying would be admitted (see note 2). If there are more children with siblings in the school than places available, places will be allocated to those children with siblings who live nearest to the school in terms of walking distance (see note 3).
4. Children who live nearest to the school in terms of walking distance (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(s). The decision as to whether your child qualifies on medical or social grounds is made by the local authority.
2. Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner where the child for whom the school place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.
3. Distance will be measured by the shortest walking route, via public rights of way, from the 'seed point' (a central point) of the child’s home address (including flats) to the main entrance of the school, using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system, with those living closer to the school receiving the higher priority.

Admissions criteria for voluntary aided schools, free schools and academies 

If you are expressing a preference for a voluntary aided school, free school or academy, you must check carefully that you can meet the school’s admissions criteria. You will find key details of each of our school’s admissions and oversubscription criteria in the Starting School booklet, but should check the full versions, available from the schools and usually published on their websites (see the school conacts list for links to the websites).

Additional information forms

For voluntary aided (church) schools, religious belief and practice are important factors in the admissions policies and extra information is required to help the governors of the school decide whether your child qualifies for a place. With the exception of John Betts Primary School, which is non demonitional, all of the borough’s voluntary aided schools ask parents to complete an additional information form. These are available from the individual schools and you must return the completed forms direct to the schools by the date they specify.

Late applications 

Community primary schools
 
Applications received after the closing date of 15 January 2011 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, free schools and academies 

The governors, as the admissions authority for voluntary aided schools, free schools and academies, 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 Hammersmith & Fulham community primary schools you need to appeal by 18 May 2012 - read the information on our website about school admissions appeals.