Rochdale Borough Council

If you live in the Rochdale borough you apply to us even if the school you're applying for is in another local authority.

If you live outside of the borough and want to apply for a Rochdale borough school, you should apply to your home local authority who will notify us of your application.

I​ndependent schools​​​​

If you wish to apply for an i​ndependent school, you'll ​need to apply to the school directly for a place, so you don't need to use our application form.

​​​​Please give the home address where the child and parent (or carer) normally lives. Not the address of a relative or childminder, or of a parent the child doesn't normally live with.​ ​ 

We may need evidence such as bank statements, utility or council tax bills, or check the address against the electoral register and with benefits agencies if necessary.

If you apply using a false or intentionally misleading address and your child is offered a place, we'll withdraw the offer.​​

My child lives with different parents or carers for part of the week, which address should I put on the application?

• If legal arrangements are in place to s​upport these instances, we'll accept either address.
• If no legal arrangements exist, the home address where child benefit is paid will be used.

​​​​No. There should be only one application per child. If we receive more than one application, we'll only process one of them. We'll send the offer letter to the child's main home address, but we'll try to send an additional letter if requested.​

​​​​​​​We're not able to process applications if there's a conflict between parents about which school their child should attend. Please contact us if this might be the case.

If we receive applications with different preferences from each parent, we'll write to both of them and explain that their application can't be processed until an agreement is reached.

We'll need written confirmation from each parent corroborating their agreement or a court order following a parental dispute.​

If no agreement is reached then all preferences will be 'frozen' and a place will be offered at the nearest school to the child's home address with places available.

​For in-year admissions, children are expected to remain at their current school until there is written evidence submitted by the parents about their agreed preference, or an order is made by the court.

​​​​​​​​​​​We encourage parents to give 4 preferences for secondary schools as we allocate places based on demand and the number of places available.

​If you only state 1 preference for your child and a place cannot be offered, we'll give your child a place at the next nearest school with spaces available.

You'll not increase your chance of obtaining a place at any school by choosing just 1 school, ​or the same school 4 times.​

If a school is oversubscribed, its admissions criteria will be used to work out who's offered a place.

You have the right to appeal​ against any choices that have been refused.​

The supporting evidence for community secondary schools should be sent to the admissions team.​​

​​​​​​​​Other schools may require you to complete a supplementary form or provide other supporting evidence. You should check with the school to see if they require this. The forms are available from the school and should be returned directly to them​.​​

​If you're applying for a specific school on the basis of a medical or psychological condition, you'll be required to provide evidence of this directly to the school.​​​

Failure to provide relevant evidence may lead to your child missing out on a place at your preferred school.

Foundation, voluntary aided schools and academies

If you're applying for a place in a voluntary aided, foundation school ​or academy, you should send supporting information directly to them. We're not responsible for information sent to us in error.

When completing the form you should bear in mind any plans you have for moving from your present address.

If you change your address between submitting your application and 1 January 2021, we'll use your new address when allocating places, as long as you can provide proof of your new address.

Because the number of places available in each school is limited, it may not be possible to use your new address unless you quote your actual move date. You'll also need to provide written confirmation from your estate agent or solicitor that contracts have been signed and exchanged.

If you're renting a property we'll need a copy of:

• ​​The tenancy agreement for not less than 12 months covering the date your child will be admitted to school.
• Utility bill.
• Bank statement.
• Council tax bill or child benefit entitlement form.​

​​​​​​​​​Yes. You can amend your online application at any time up to the closing date. After you re-open your application you must always submit your changes or they won't be saved and your application may not be processed.

Sign in to amend your application​

After you submit your application, you'll get an email confirming that your changes have been received. 

If you submit more than one​ application for your child, we'll process the most recent application.