Out of County Application for RLS

[Northants Parent]

I live in Northants close to Towcester and am considering entering my son for the 11+ Autumn 2007. Having spent some time reading various threads on this site I have a couple of questions if anyone can please help. Is an 'Out of County' application treated the same as an 'Out of Catchment' one? Also, will the 10.45 mile (I think) distance from the RLS to home rule apply for 2007 and if so would a candidate living a greater distance from the school have any chance of being offered a place? Many thanks.

[Guest55]

Hi,

You can apply for RLS wherever you live!

The distance that will be the 'cut-off' cannot be anticipated - it depends how many children reach the 121, put the school as first choice and live nearer the school than you do. [Note HOW the distance is measured - it's not as the crow flies]

In the past pupils have come from further away than you BUT the rules changed to distance rather than score for those not in catchment two years ago.

No-one can say whether you will get a place -

[Etienne]

Is an 'Out of County' application treated the same as an 'Out of Catchment' one?

Yes (assuming that the catchment area doesn't cross the county boundary).

The Greenwich Judgement of 1989 established that LA schools may not give priority to children simply because of the fact that they live in the authority’s administrative area. (This does not mean that admission authorities cannot use certain oversubscription criteria, such as the catchment area rule which is permitted under the Rotherham judgement of 1997.)

So, there's a distinction between "Who can apply?" (answer = anyone. There must be no discrimination), and
"What happens if the school is full?" (preference can be given to children in the catchment area, but not to children in the rest of the LA's administrative area.)

Regards

[Another Northants Parent]

The maximum distance for the first round of allocations this year was 11.487 miles. This could well change when all the acceptances have been received and more offers can be made to applicants on the waiting list. Last year it went from 10.4 miles to about 10.8. You can e-mail BCC and ask them to calculate the exact distance from your home to the school using their system. I've done it and it seems to be quite accurate.

We also live in the Towcester area and are just inside last year's distance. However, our daughter gained her place at RLS a few years ago just before the rules changed. Please do come back and let us know how you get on, we're always on the lookout for someone to share lifts with! (No buses - shameful when the journey takes less than half an hour!)

Good luck!

[Northants Parent]

Thanks for your replies. I have contacted BCC with regards to the distance from the RLS to my home. It is an official 12.485 miles so only about a mile further than that of a place allocated for September 2007. Although my son`s chances of being offered a place are slim I have decided to let him sit the 11 Plus, nothing ventured, nothing gained! If we are lucky enough to need a lift-share I shall post on the forum!!

[Guest55]

You could appeal - especially if your child is gifted in Science/Maths as they have that as a Specialism - as you say nothing ventured ...

[Another Northants Parent]

It's certainly worth a try. Good luck!