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Do you have to be in a catchment area to be considered for a place at a state school?
Traditionally, children have been expected to attend their nearest schools in England. But this suddenly went out of fashion in the 80s, and continued into the 90s, as parent choice was adopted. But old-style “catchment areas” have made a comeback since the turn of the century, with most state schools prioritising applicants who live in “priority areas”.
These geographical zones that favour applications from local residents have been described as a postcode lottery – but have you got to be in it to win it to secure your child a place at an Ofsted-rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ state school in London?
The answer is simple: living in a catchment area is advantageous, but it doesn’t guarantee a place at your desired school. Therefore, living outside of a catchment area does not exclude your application from being considered – but things must fall into place for you and your child to be successful.
Admissions process
After the application deadline, the following priority levels will take effect during the admissions process, which is influenced by who else has applied at the same time as you:
- Siblings of existing pupils and children in care will typically be given priority.
- The remaining places will be allocated according to who lives within the catchment area. There are several exceptions, however, such as voluntary aided (faith) schools, which use different admissions criteria.
- If the school isn’t oversubscribed, meaning places that remain unfilled, these will go to applicants residing outside the catchment area.
Catchment areas are not static and can change year-to-year depending on application volume and school capacity. So, always read their admissions policy on their website before applying – and if you’re still unsure, contact their admissions officer. You can also find helpful information on the government’s school admissions page.
Proving your address
Your proximity to the school will still play a significant role in the ranking of your application if you reside outside the catchment area. Therefore, you are required to provide official proof of your permanent UK address when applying. Your chances will increase the closer you live to the school if there are spaces to be filled once the priority places have been allocated.
You will be asked to provide at least two proofs of address, including:
- Council tax letter for the current year
- Copy of your tenancy agreement
- Copy of a benefits letter dated within the past 12 months
- TV licence
- Utility bill dated within the past three months
- Copy of your child benefit letter
- Copy of a tax credits letter
Consult the experts
Simply London’s extensive experience helping people navigate the state school search and application process means we understand the intricacies of catchment areas. Consulting with us can provide valuable insights into local schools, catchment areas, and the competitive landscape these arbitrary boundaries create. Contact us today to ensure you make informed decisions for your child’s education journey.
At Simply London our fantastic team of School Experts are on hand to assist you you throughout the entire school finding process, find out why our school search service is the best choice for finding and applying to the best State schools in London!
FAQ’s
- 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 oversubscribe
- 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
Useful websites
- UK government website • https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school
- Performance tables • https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
- Home Bond 11+ • https://www.bond11plus.co.uk
- CGP 11+ • https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-plus-books/11
Testimonials
Julie at Simply London helped with the registration process to get my daughter into a school we really wanted that is a 2 minute walk from our home. She even checked in on her first day just to make sure everything went well. I would wholeheartedly and unreservedly recommend Simply London to anyone who wants a worry-free relocation process! – Cindy W.
When we started investigating (and getting confused about) areas, schools and the logistics involved, it became clear very quickly that we needed help! They helped us to navigate areas to live, choose from thousands of schools, anticipate our new lives and generally made it much easier for us to walk in as if we were locals already. – Altaf
Article published 1st April 2024
