My particular bug-bears about the process is that many Jewish schools(particularly the more religious schools) think that the admissions code does not apply to them, and that they are free to hand pick the families that they want. And prospective parents I think are in a very vulnerable position, so the schools can continue to get away with it.

If you are applying for a state funded school (i.e. voluntary aided school) then it’s worth familiarising yourself with the admissions code at the start of the process – there is a link here but I have included salient points below:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/sacode/downloads/SchoolAdmissionsCodeWEB060309.pdf

• Interviews must not be used to determine the extent to which a child meets oversubscription criteria
• Admission authorities must not ask parents to agree tomake a financial contribution to the school when applying for a place
• Admission authorities must not use complex points systems that allocate a number of points to different criteria according to their relative importance. Points systems can only be used if they are transparent and can be easily understood. If points systems are used they must be clear and objective.
• Schools must not give priority to children whose parents are current or former staff or governors or who have another connection to the school,
• Schools must not give priority to children according to the occupational, financial or marital status of parents,
• If admission authorities decide to use random allocation when schools are oversubscribed, they need to set out clearly how this will operate, and must ensure that arrangements are transparent. They must undertake a fresh round of random allocation when deciding which child is to be offered a place from a waiting list, and must not use the results of an earlier round of random allocation as this would disadvantage those who had applied for a place at the school after the first random allocation was carried out. In order to provide verification that the random allocation process has been carried out fairly, admission authorities must ensure that they are supervised by someone independent of the school.
• As with all oversubscription criteria, those that are faith-based must be clear, objective and fair. Parents must easily be able to understand how the criteria will be satisfied.
•  
• A parent-school agreement in terms of religious or other requirements cannot be entered into until the child has been offered a place.
• Published admission arrangements must make clear how membership or practice is to be demonstrated in line with guidance issued by the faith provider group or religious authority.

Tips– in advance of application process:

• Apply to all the schools that your child might reasonably be expected to get a place at.
• Try not to set your heart on one particular school
• Make sure all the application forms are submitted on time
• Attend all the open evenings/mornings if you can – this will enable you to get a feel for the school
• If  you are asked to attend any interviews for a state school take careful note of where and when the interview took place, and who did the interviewing – this could support your claim that the process was unfair if you did not get a place
• Ask about levels of fees / parental contributions and extras – there vary greatly from school to school. At a state school the payments are voluntary.

Tips– if you do not get a place at your preferred school:

If it is there isn’t much you can do other than ask to remain on waiting list and communicate with them often so that they know you are still interested.

If you were not entered into the lottery or you hear of families living further away who are offered places then you must have been rejected because you are not religiously suitable. If this is the school you really want for your children AND you feel you are religiously suitable then you can fight this –start by writing to the school (copying in the LEA, and your Rabbi) why you are religiously suitable. If there is no response then its worth following up with whoever is responsible for the school (see link http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20083089_en.pdf