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Can I apply to state schools outside my London borough?
A common question comes up when people enter the London rental market: can I apply for state schools outside the London borough I live in? The answer is simple: Yes – but the process may vary depending on the specific policies and procedures of the schools and the local education authority.
If your family is relocating to the UK from overseas, you might also want to explore this guide to family immigration on our sister site. It covers the essentials of bringing your family to the UK.
There are two options available when applying for a place at a state school outside your borough of residence:
Applying through your borough of residence
In England, local authorities – in this case, London boroughs – are responsible for coordinating the admissions process for state-funded schools in their area. When applying for a state school place, you typically apply through your local borough via an online application form, which will then consider your preferences and allocate places based on their admissions criteria and on the availability of places in each school that has been listed.
Some boroughs refuse to handle applications for schools outside their borders. Once you know which borough you will be living in, contact their school admissions team to ascertain if they handle applications for other local authorities. If they do, you can then indicate this preference on your application form.
You should also ask them for specific guidance on how to apply for state schools outside your borough and to understand the criteria that will be used to allocate places. Additionally, contact the schools you’re interested in to inquire about their admissions policies and whether there is a chance that an application from outside their local area can lead to a place being offered.
It’s important to note that there is no guarantee of being offered a place at a school outside your local authority. Priority for places is typically given to children who live within the school’s catchment area or have other specific criteria, such as siblings already attending the school.
Applying through another borough
Alternatively, you can apply directly with the other borough the school is located in. To give yourself the best chance of being successful, contact the borough for details of its admissions process and contact the school to understand its admissions criteria. This will prevent you from applying for a school your child has little or no chance of obtaining a place at.
Whether you choose to apply through your borough of residence or the borough the school’s located in, do your research first to give your child the best chance of being successful.
Schools FAQs
- Is the application process different for faith schools? Faith schools still have to follow the national curriculum, but their admissions criteria may differ to non-religious state schools. The official UK government website page has more information available on this topic: https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/faith-schools
- Do state schools require entrance exams? State schools do not require an entrance exam, except Grammar Schools which are the only selective state schools. However there are very few of them in London, and they are heavily oversubscribed.
- Do state schools require previous school records? State schools do not require any school records, they are not selective and will take children purely based on their age, and the admissions criteria.
- Do we have to apply to schools in our Borough, or can we apply to schools in other Boroughs? It is possible to apply for state schools in other London Boroughs. Contact your local council to enquire. Some Boroughs will centralise applications, including those for other Boroughs, others will want you to make a direct application with the other Borough.
- Is there a minimum residency time required in a Borough to be eligible for admission? Whilst there isn’t a minimum residence time, local authorities have become aware of the popularity in recent years of renting only temporarily in catchment areas, and have implemented a ‘school catchment police’ system, which investigates parents who have recently moved into an area to ensure they are genuine local residents.
- Is there any way to know if our preferred school has an available seat for my child in advance? You can contact your local council, or the school itself, find which schools have places available. However they might not be able or willing to give that information.
Useful Resources
Here are some resources that we think may be of use with your preparation in applying to a London grammar school.
- 11 Plus Guide A free, authoritative and independent guide for parents helping their child to prepare for the 11 Plus. https://www.11plusguide.com
- Atom Learning Award-winning online learning for ages 7-11, helping to take the stress out of the 11 plus with a tailored preparation programme. https://atomlearning.com
- Exam Paper Plus Specific 11 Plus Exam Practise Papers to cover every school, board, topic and exam type. https://exampapersplus.co.uk/papers/eleven-plus/
- Keystone Tutors One of the UK’s leading private tutoring organisations, tutors are predominantly based in London and work online with families based outside of London or overseas. https://www.keystonetutors.com/tutors/11-plus-tutors
How Simply London can help
Our schools’ experts can provide personalised guidance and support on the state schools admissions process. Using their knowledge and experience, they can help you select and apply for schools that match your child’s educational needs so they can excel. Contact us today, or schedule a free call with us here to discuss how we can help you to find the ideal state school for your child.
Need help bringing your family to the UK? Our sister site Simply UK Visa offers expert guidance on family immigration. Because getting settled starts with getting here.
Article published 9th February 2024, updated in August 2025.
