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Home How We Allocate School Places

Do it online

Contact us

Please contact our Admissions and Awards Team for more information.

You can only apply for a school place in the year group that applies to your child. The headteacher may decide they should be moved up or down a year group but this would only take place after they had been admitted to the year group correct for their date of birth.

The school year group chart will help you to work out what school year group your child should be in for the new school year which starts in September.

When to apply

There are set deadlines for certain age groups. Please follow the link below to find out when to make an application for your child's school admission. We would advise you make your application as early as you can.

Understanding the admissions criteria

If a place is available in the year group at your chosen school and there is no waiting list for that year group, we will write to you offering you a place at the school.

How we allocate school places

Where there are insufficient school places, priority will be given in accordance with the agreed admissions criteria.

For information on how places are allocated at school based nursery classes, refer to page 10 on primary school booklet (PDF 2.63MB)
For information on how school places are allocated to children starting primary school, refer to page 15 on primary school booklet (PDF 2.63MB)
For information on secondary school allocation process, Transfer to Secondary School 2012 booklet (PDF 4.48MB).

Admissions criteria for faith schools

The faith schools have their own admissions criteria and application process. If there are more applications than places available, the governing bodies will use their own admissions criteria to decide how places are allocated for their school.

For further information on the individual faith schools, contact the school directly.

Admissions criteria for foundation schools

The foundation schools have their own admissions criteria and application process. If there are more applications than places available, the governing bodies will use their own admissions criteria to decide how places are allocated for their school.

For further information on the individual foundation schools, contact the schools directly.

Admissions criteria for free schools

The admissions criteria have been agreed to be the same as for Redbridge Community Schools and the Governors will follow the national School Admissions code in all matters. Parents will need to apply for places for their child in the same way as for any other local school.

For further information on the free schools, contact our Admissions and Awards Team.

Catchment area

A catchment area is the area around a school covering a number of roads or parts of roads. Only certain secondary schools have a catchment area.

for further clarification on catchment area, please contact Admissions Team.
or view the secondary schools catchment area maps and supplementary Information forms (PDF 3.35MB)

Finding out more about schools

Before deciding which schools to apply for, visit as many secondary schools as possible, preferably at their open day / evening. This will give you a chance to look around the schools, meet the students and staff and ask questions.

If you wish to visit outside the open day / evening, you will need to get in touch with the school to arrange an appointment.

Each school produces there own booklet, which gives detailed information about the school. This can be obtained from the school.

Late applicants

Applications received after the closing date are dealt with in a similar way to those received on time. Making a late application will reduce your chances of getting a place at your preferred school, as most schools will be full.

What happens if I don’t get a place?

If you do not get a place at your preferred school we will add your child to the waiting list of each of the other chosen schools. Visit our waiting list page for more information.
You can also appeal against the decision to refuse a place, but this does not guarantee that you will get a place. Visit our Appeals page for more information.

Can I apply for a school in another borough?

If you live in Redbridge but wish to apply for a school outside Redbridge, you must apply to Redbridge Admissions & Awards Team. Redbridge will liaise on your behalf with the other authority and will co-ordinate your application.

If you live outside of Redbridge but would like a Redbridge school, you must apply to your home authority.

Details of other neighbouring boroughs are available at the back of both Primary Booklets (PDF 2.63MB) and Transfer to Secondary Booklet (PDF 4597KB)

Changing schools

If you move home and you have to change your child's school, you will need to go through the admission process again.

You will need to make an application well in advance of your move, as some schools in your new area may already be full. Contact the Admissions Team for more information.

Pupils from overseas

If you've moved to England with your child, you can apply for them to attend a maintained school, regardless of their immigration status. This might apply to:

teachers entering the UK with their children on a teacher exchange scheme
asylum seekers with children
parents with limited leave to enter or remain in the UK.

What do I do if I can not speak / write English?

If you have difficulty in reading or writing English, please contact Families Information Direct, or the school. They will be able to arrange for a translator to help you.