UK Schools: School admissions criteria explained

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00:00Hello, my name is Amber Allitt and I'm a journalist specializing in education.

00:04When it comes to state school admissions, or which primary or secondary school your

00:08child is able to attend, a number of different factors can come into play.

00:12In England, each school or local authority is able to set its own admissions criteria,

00:17but here are some of the common things that are taken into account to avoid schools being

00:22oversubscribed. Where you live right down to your street address can play a big part.

00:28Most state schools have what are known as catchment areas.

00:31This is the geographical area they prioritize when deciding which children are offered places.

00:37While parents can apply for a school even if they live outside their dedicated area,

00:42their child might not be guaranteed a place.

00:46Some secondary schools also have what are known as feeder schools.

00:49These are local primary schools whose pupils tend to feed into them.

00:53This means that children who attend a feeder school

00:56may be more likely to be offered a place at that secondary school.

01:00In the case of selective state schools, sometimes known as grammar schools,

01:05your child getting a place might depend on them passing an entrance exam.

01:09Finally, some schools also have special religious character,

01:12such as being Catholic, Anglican or Muslim.

01:16While pupils from other backgrounds may also be considered,

01:19families who follow the same faith as the school may be prioritized for placement.