What details are required when filling in forms for primary school choices ?

advice_please_2

Obviously address, but does it go to detail like rented or owned, how long living there etc.?

Just thinking for those who want to get into a decent school if people rent near the school to get considered when places are limited?

balletshoes

whether you rent or own has no bearing at all on whether your child would get a place at your preferred school. Your address does, but not your renting/owning status, nor how long you have lived there. As long you lived there on a certain date during the application process (can't remember what date that is) then thats the address which is counted for the application and the school criteria.

What matters is how high up the criteria list your child sits, if places are restricted and the school is oversubscribed.

Each LEA usually has information like this, plus online applications and information booklets, on the city/borough/district council website.

Nicki

But it needs to be your main residence. So you will need to be on the electoral roll at that address, and can't get away with renting a cheap room in catchment to collect post, but actually living somewhere else. It's not unknown for the council to do a home visit if there is any suspicion that this might be the case.

milliebear00001

Nicki wrote: »

But it needs to be your main residence. So you will need to be on the electoral roll at that address, and can't get away with renting a cheap room in catchment to collect post, but actually living somewhere else. It's not unknown for the council to do a home visit if there is any suspicion that this might be the case.

Although legally you cannot state a 'non-main' residence as your address for catchment purposes, in practice, it is very unlikely anyone would check unless the school was heavily over-subscribed. It's always possible somebody might 'complain' though!

Nicki

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Although legally you cannot state a 'non-main' residence as your address for catchment purposes, in practice, it is very unlikely anyone would check unless the school was heavily over-subscribed. It's always possible somebody might 'complain' though!

But equally, if the school wasn't oversubscribed, families wouldn't have to move closer to have any chance of being considered

JC9297

Nicki wrote: »

But it needs to be your main residence. So you will need to be on the electoral roll at that address, and can't get away with renting a cheap room in catchment to collect post, but actually living somewhere else. It's not unknown for the council to do a home visit if there is any suspicion that this might be the case.

There is no legal requirement for anybody to be on the electoral roll so not being on it at that address cannot be used against anyone, however if there are suspicions that your application was fraudulent then it might be checked to see if you are on it at a different address.
Edit to correct: should have said no legal requirement for everybody to be on the electoral roll rather than anybody.

onlyroz

I seem to remember being asked for a council tax bill as proof of residency when I applied for my son's school place. I've got to go through the process again for my daughter soon - here's hoping that I get both kids in the same place.

Nicki

JC9297 wrote: »

There is no legal requirement for anybody to be on the electoral roll so not being on it at that address cannot be used against anyone, however if there are suspicions that your application was fraudulent then it might be checked to see if you are on it at a different address.

What's your authority for that?

The government website seems to suggest there is a £1000 fine if you fail to register

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/faq/registering_to_vote.aspx

You definitely need to register for council tax though and that database can also be searched to see if you live in catchment.

barbarawright

JC9297 wrote: »

There is no legal requirement for anybody to be on the electoral roll so not being on it at that address cannot be used against anyone, however if there are suspicions that your application was fraudulent then it might be checked to see if you are on it at a different address.

Incorrect. You are legally required to be on the electoral roll if eligible.

balletshoes

barbarawright wrote: »

Incorrect. You are legally required to be on the electoral roll if eligible.

but being eligible to be on the electoral roll is not the same criteria as applying for a school place for your child. For example, my husband could have applied for our daughter's school place, but he is not eligible to be on the electoral roll.

HalfPint

I know that where I live the council does a "sample" area of people asking them to provide additional proof of the address.

I was asked to do this when I applied last year for my son to go to senior school. It had to be a bank statement, utility bill or council tax bill. I have 3 other children and haven't been asked for this with any of the others.

They can and do check that you live where you say you do...be truthful, get your application in early and make sure you put down a 2nd and 3rd choice otherwise they may well put you in a school outwith your town!

HP x