Need help with school applications? Read this....

It's time to apply for schools and as always, I'm keen to help in any way I can.

I have various posts which will help you when it comes to applying for primary and secondary schools.

However, one of the most important things is to choose your school carefully and fill in the forms correctly! You would be surprised how many parents don't do this. Admissions policies/rules and regulations often change, so make sure you check them. If you are applying for a state school, you must use your Local Authority's application form. But beware, many schools, including faith schools, also require you to fill in a supplementary form which you hand back to the school. You should ask the school for this information.

Read my post on applying to primary school - what you need to know. 
- as I say in that post, there are also various government publications to help. One of the most obvious starting points is the "Primary and Secondary Schools, admissions and appeals" booklet. There is also more information on applying for a school place on the Directgov website - you can find out about schools in your area by clicking on “find out about primary school places.” If you're interested in independent schools, try the Independent Schools Council which has a helpful Parents Zone.

Read School Gate on School Open Days: what you should be asking and see what Alexandra Frean thinks you should be asking a school - before you send your child there.

And for extra info, read my explanation of all the different kinds of secondary schools out there.

If you think you might need more help with admissions and appeals, read this post, and remember that you can always contact ACE (the advisory centre for education) if you need more advice. Your local authority should also be able to help, but as Francis Gilbert points out in his latest book, Working the System: how to get the very best education for your child, local authority Choice Advisers may not always be completely impartial (although they are very well informed).

Getting into the right school is a very stressful and touchy issue for many parents. We have all heard stories of those who rent a house near a good school to get in, and yes, this can work (I know some of these parents myself). However, you do have to live in the house in question, and local authorities are trying very hard to crack down on those who abuse this.

I would also say that you should never give a false address on an application form as there are moves to prosecute parents who do this. Basically, try to stop becoming obsessed! Many poor schools have been turned around by good headteachers in recent years. Before you fill in the applications, meet the heads at your local schools and ask them some searching questions. Don't give up on a local school because of hearsay. Do your own research. You might be surprised.

Finally, try to stay calm. Teachers and schools are important but so are parents. You need to make your child doesn't see how worried you might be, and also to realise that you are an incredibly strong influence on your child's education, whatever school he or she gets into.

Good luck!

Read School Gate on whether parents who submit fraudulent school applications should be prosecuted.