School Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

No. Parents are able to express a preference for any school they wish their child to attend, within or outside the Royal Borough. However, if there are more applications than places available we use the admission criteria to decide to whom we can offer a place. In most cases, pupils from designated areas attain a higher criteria than non-designated area pupils, therefore are more likely to be allocated a place. This is not always the case, particularly with voluntary aided schools, so we advise that you refer to the relevant Guide to Admissions for precise admission criteria for each school. These can be found on our Primary School Admissions and Secondary School Admissions pages.

We are not able to guarantee a place at any school within the Borough, therefore it is important to consider naming your designated area school as one of your preferred schools. We advise that you are realistic with your preferences and name at least one school as a "safety net" where you are likely to be offered a place. Should you not do this, then there is a greater risk we will not be able to offer you a place at one of your three preference schools. In this circumstance, we will divert your child to the nearest school with an available place.