Choosing a school

Deciding which school you would prefer your child to attend is an important decision for any parent. No longer are schools able to keep waiting lists for their school places and instead all parents must complete one application form for their first three preferred schools so they are treated equally and fairly. You are able to apply for any non fee paying school you wish, but if more parents apply than there are places, rules (criteria) are used to decide which children are given the places. In the Admissions brochure you will see that Admissions criteria differ from school to school.

Bedfordshire is one of only a few counties which still has a three tier or stage system for educating children. These are known as Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. 

• Lower schools are for children aged 4+ - 9 (known as Reception class and years 1, 2, 3 & 4)
• Middle Schools are for children aged 9 – 13 (known as years 5, 6, 7 & 8)
• Upper Schools are for children aged 13 – 16 (can be 18 if they have a 6^th form) (known as years 9, 10, 11 & 12)

There is a lower, Middle and Upper school which serves your area, and is known as your catchment school. As long as you put the catchment school as your preferred choice and complete your form and return it on time, your child will have a place guaranteed. It is strongly advised that all parents apply for their catchment school as well as other choices; this will usually mean that if a place is not available at your preferred school, you still have a priority place at your catchment area school. If you do not ask for your catchment school, it could result in your child being allocated a place at a school some distance from your home and you would be responsible for transporting them for four or more years.

There are a number of local and national websites which you may find helpful – they are listed in Useful School Admissions Websites for Parents|