Whether you’re completely new to the process or you’re a seasoned school applicant who’s just moved to a new area, primary school applications can seem incredibly complex and is one you want to get right for your child.
Fortunately there’s a lot of literature available but it’s spread far and wide so we’ve collated all the most important need-to-knows and tips for how to approach your application to save you the unnecessary stress.
What To Do Before Applying For Schools
Do Your Research
First and foremost, do your research to shortlist schools that align with your religious beliefs (if applicable) and that have a good reputation, as well as a strong Ofsted performance. There are so many qualified and fantastic tutors available to support with CATs, SATs, the 7+ and the 11+ but it’s also worth checking the school’s performance across these exams to understand what support will be available from the school in helping your child succeed.
Even if you have had a school in mind for a while, it’s still important to research other options as there may be another school that’s recently outperformed your current choice, or one with something better to offer your child. Exploring multiple schools means you can list a few choices on your application to maximise your child’s chances of getting into a school you’ve selected, rather than one that was allocated to them.
Visit The Primary Schools You Have In Mind
Schools will offer open days or tours for prospective parents. Before committing to a school, we recommend attending one of these days. Seeing for yourself how the school runs, what the atmosphere is like and having the opportunity to meet the teachers will help you to truly gauge whether it’s the right fit for your child.
Ask Around
Speak to other parents as they may be able to share additional insights or information you weren’t already aware of, or may have been through the application process previously with an older child.
Talk To Your Child
Parents only want the best for their child but it’s also important to gauge their interest. There may be a school they visited that made them feel particularly welcome or that they were drawn to. Younger children may of course struggle to articulate this or may be biased in their decision based on which seemed the most fun but it is important to consider their interest too.
Involving your child in the process can also help get them excited in the lead up to starting in September and reduce their nerves when the new term begins.
Important Dates: When To Start Primary School Applications & Submission Dates
If you’ve been to or are due to go to primary school open days, then make a point of getting time in with the admissions team or attending talks hosted by them as they’ll be able to confirm the key dates and deadlines you need to be aware of.
Generally speaking, most primary schools in the UK will open applications from September for the following academic year but each borough or school will have its own set of submission dates so be sure to check these in advance and allow plenty of time to complete and submit your child’s application.
You can also find useful resources for Local Authorities and cities outside of London at the bottom of this post.
In the Borough of Barnet, Primary applications for September 2023 will open from September 1st 2022 and close on January 15th 2023.
What Is The Primary School Applications Process?
When you have visited school open days and decided on you preferred school(s), you can begin the application process by registering on www.eadmissions.org.uk with a valid email address.
- Registration – Using an active email address, register for an account with eadmissions as applications are now processed online.
- Verify your account – Once you’ve registered, you’ll be sent a verification email which needs to be completed before you’re able to progress with your child’s application so keep an eye out for this and don’t forget to check spam / junk folders!
- Begin the application – After verifying your account you can login to the eadmissions page and click ‘start application’ to begin the formal process. Note: 2023 applications will only be open to children born between September 1st 2018 – August 31st 2019. If you enter an incorrect date of birth, you will not be able to progress to the next step of the application.
- Select the school(s) – After filling in your child’s details, you can then select the local borough or authority you’d like to apply for, and select your school(s) of choice. You’ll be asked to answer a handful of questions for each school application, like whether the applicant has a sibling already at the school.
- Submit – Once you’ve completed this for all schools you’re applying for, check back over to confirm all the details you’ve filled in are correct and submit. After submitting, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a unique application reference number as proof that you have processed an application for your child.
- Attach supplementary documents – Only after submitting an application will you be able to upload and attach Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs), like a certificate of religious practice or reference letter from a priest for religious schools or results from an aptitude test.
Common Primary School Application Questions
Can I only apply for schools in my borough?
No, you can apply for schools both within and outside of your borough through the eAdmissions site. Do note that some schools have a specific catchment area or distance as part of their admissions criteria so, to avoid disappointment, make sure to familiarise yourself with this before applying too far outside of your borough.
Will applying for schools in a different borough lower my child’s chances of being accepted?
No, an admissions authority cannot give priority to its own residents so as long as they meet the other admissions criteria for that school, their chances of acceptance should be the same as that of any other child in the borough.
Will listing just one school on my child’s application better their chances of acceptance?
In short, no. All applications will be assessed against a school’s acceptance criteria, not rather than factors like other applications. If you list only one school and your child does not qualify for a place, your Local Authority will offer a place at the nearest school with a vacancy and this may not be a preferred school so we recommend listing multiple schools to maximise the chance of your child being accepted in a school you’re happy with.
Will my child have priority if their sibling already attends the school we’re applying to?
Most schools will try to give priority to siblings but if there are other children who qualify for a place under a higher criteria then a child will not be guaranteed a place solely based on their sibling being an existing student.
If my child is already attending a nursery connected to our first choice primary school, will they automatically be accepted?
Regardless of whether your child already attends an associated nursery, schools are not permitted to give priority places so there is no guarantee they will be accepted for a reception place. Everyone must apply through the eAdmissions site.
What Are The Options If You Miss The Primary School’s Application Deadline?
Your Local Authority’s website will have the most accurate guidance for the schools in your area but in many cases, applications submitted after the deadline will still be considered but they will not be processed until after those that met the deadline. With that in mind, we recommend getting your application in as early as you can as late applications mean there is a far greater chance your child will not be offered a place at one of your preferred schools.
In extenuating circumstances, such as the loss or serious illness of a close relative or having moved to the area after the closing date, a ‘Reason for Late Application Form’ can be submitted to your local borough for consideration, with second round applications being due by the end of April / early May at the absolute latest.
What Happens After You’ve Submitted An Application?
Once you’ve submitted, you can sit tight until National Allocation Day on 17th April 2023. The outcome of submissions is typically sent to prospective parents via email using the contact information you registered your eAdmissions application with.
Once this comes through, you must either accept or decline your child’s offer through the eAdmissions website. The deadline for accepting an offer will be outlined when you receive the outcome but is usually within a fortnight so please check this date carefully to ensure you don’t miss out on a place.
What Happens After You’ve Accepted A Primary School Offer?
The deadline for accepting an offer is typically the end of April or beginning of May, with a formal offer of a new school place being sent from the selected school in early-mid May.
Each school will have a process in place so, alongside this offer, your chosen school will also share details on next steps and what to prepare ahead of starting in September.
What Are The Options If My Child Doesn’t Get Accepted Into Our Chosen Primary School?
If your child does not qualify for a place under your preferred school’s admissions criteria, the borough will offer a place at the nearest school with a vacancy. While this is often not the most preferable route, it does mean your child will have somewhere to go in September so it’s always worth accepting the school offered to you in this instance, even if you intend to appeal another decision.
If you reject offers in the interim, the Local Authority have no legal duty to then offer you another place elsewhere which could leave you in a sticky situation in September or with an alternative school which you’re even less taken by.
The appeals process will vary across each school and Local Authority but if your child is not offered a place at any of the schools ranked higher on your application form than that which you have been offered, you do have the right to appeal. In the Borough of Barnet, an appeal would typically be held by an independent panel in July.
If you’re unhappy with the final school offered, you can still contact your preferred school and ask to be put on the waiting list as placements often shift around prior to the school year starting so there’s a possibility a space might become available for your child.
Please note that the above information is relevant to state school applications at the time of publishing. We recommend you also consult your Local Authority or chosen school’s website for the most up to date guidance as dates and processes can change. Independent schools will each have their own process and assessment criteria in place so we recommend contacting the school’s admission team directly for detailed guidance on applying and key dates.
Useful resources:
More on the application process in your borough here, including details: on applying for children with multiple addresses, applying from overseas, applications for children of UK Armed Forces or service personnel, children with special needs and ‘looked after’ or previously looked after children.