Thursday, May 24 2012
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Is it true that..? Some common myths about applying for a school place

Q Some over-subscribed schools have 2 waiting lists?
A It’s not true. Each over-subscribed school has only one waiting list, with each child’s place decided by the over-subscription criteria. Waiting lists cannot give priority to children based on the date that their application was received, or when their name was added to the list.
Q Faith schools have to take a certain number of children who are of other faiths or no faith?
A It’s not true. As with all other maintained schools and academies, faith schools must offer a place to every child who applies if there are places available. However, many faith schools are regularly over-subscribed and they can use faith-based over-subscription criteria to give higher priority to children who are of their faith. Faith schools will be able to tell you the number of children of other faiths or no faith that are currently at the school. This information can be used as an indicator of the number from each category that will be admitted for the coming year but it does not form any sort of guarantee.
Q My child will only get a place at an over-subscribed school if I make it my first preference?
A It’s not true. Eligibility for a place at a school is not affected by the preference you give to it on the application form. To give yourself the best chance of securing a place at your favourite school – whether it is over-subscribed or not - you must name it as your first preference. If you don’t, it is possible that you could be eligible for a place but not receive an offer because one of your higher-ranked schools was also able to offer you a place.
Q Academies and faith schools can choose any over-subscription criteria they like?
A It’s not true. Whilst many academies and faith schools work as their own admission authority and do decide on their over-subscription criteria, these must comply with the current School Admissions Code. Each academy’s admission arrangements, including over-subscription criteria, are approved by the Secretary of State as part of its funding agreement. An academy can’t make any alterations without the approval of the Secretary of State. Faith schools do have a specific exemption from the provisions in the School Admissions Code that make it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief when choosing over-subscription criteria.
Q Staff at school can guarantee my child a place?
A It’s not true. If your child is hoping to transfer to a new school during the school year, or at the start of a year that does not normally have an intake, staff may be able to tell you if they have any places available. However, you must complete a ‘Common Application Form’ and wait for an offer from School Admissions, as there may be other children who take precedence. Staff at Voluntary Aided schools do administer their admissions process but their admission arrangements set out how places will be allocated – they provide a clear framework to ensure that unlawful and unfair arrangements are not adopted.
Q My child will get a place because I attended the same school?
A It’s not true. Admission authorities cannot give places to children on the grounds that they are related to former pupils of the school. ‘Former pupils’ include siblings who will have left the school before the younger child starts.
Q I don’t need to apply for a place because my child has a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
A It’s not true. Like everyone else you need to submit an application before the closing date – make sure you tick the box that lets the admission authority know that your child has a statement of SEN. Your application will then be sent on to the Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Team.