For American families moving to London or elsewhere in England, one of the biggest surprises can be how differently state (or, as termed in the US ‘public’) school admissions work.
In the US, public education is largely organised around where you live. Once you establish an address, your child is generally assigned to the local public school. In England, the process is more application-led. Living next door to a school does not automatically guarantee a place.
Instead, you apply through the local authority, council or London borough — broadly equivalent to a US school district — and wait for an offer. Understanding this distinction before you arrive can save considerable anxiety, particularly because your choice of home and school often need to be considered together.
Think “application,” not “assignment”
In England, you can express preferences and rank schools, but admission depends on the school’s published criteria and whether places are available.
Oversubscribed schools usually prioritise applicants according to set criteria, which may include children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school, children in care, siblings already attending, and distance from home. Faith schools may have additional requirements.
The important point for American families is simple: the right postcode does not automatically secure the right school. That does not mean families have no influence over where their children go. Quite the opposite. You can express preferences and rank schools, but ultimately a place depends on the school’s admission arrangements and whether there is room.
This is one of the first things I would explain to any American family relocating to England: do not assume that finding the right house automatically secures the right school.
Start with the council or London borough
Each local authority, or council. has its own admissions service, website and application process. For most state schools, the council coordinates applications and allocates places. Some academies and faith schools are their own admission authorities and may have additional criteria or forms. Even so, the council is usually the best place to start, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area.
When should you apply?
For families already living in England, the main admissions timetable is nationally coordinated. Children starting Reception generally apply by 15 January for a September start, while applications for secondary school Year 7 normally close on 31 October.
Families relocating from abroad often arrive outside these dates. In that case, you will usually make an in-year application. The School Admissions Code says admission authorities should aim to decide applications within ten school days and notify parents in writing within fifteen. Remember that these are school days, not calendar days, so applications made during the summer holidays may take longer to resolve.
You will generally also need an address before a council can process your application. This means that, unlike in many parts of the US, your house search and school search often need to happen simultaneously. Please read our blog on Moving house and choosing schools – Lumos Education
You can choose your preferences — but not the outcome
You will normally be asked to list schools in order of preference. The number varies between councils from 3 to 6 schools. Putting a highly sought-after school first does not, in itself, reduce your chances of being offered your second choice. Each preference is considered according to the school’s admission criteria. If none of your preferred schools has a place, the council will generally offer another school with a vacancy. You can appeal an admission decision and request a place on the waiting list for schools you would prefer.
Get your paperwork ready
Having your documents organised before you move can make the process much easier. You may need evidence of your English address, such as a tenancy agreement or completed property purchase, together with a council tax or utility bill. Your child’s passport or birth certificate and evidence of when you took up residence may also be required.
Faith schools can have additional requirements, such as supplementary forms or, in some Catholic schools, baptismal documentation. Families with children who have additional educational needs should bring assessments, educational records, reports and testing with them. England’s SEND system differs from the American special education framework, and an American IEP will not necessarily correspond directly to the documentation an English school expects.
Look beyond the league tables
Once you know which schools are realistic options, research them carefully. Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) provide publicly available inspection information, while the Department for Education publishes school performance data. These are useful starting points, particularly when you are researching from overseas, but do not base your choice on statistics alone.
If possible, visit the school. Ask about pastoral care, SEND provision, behaviour, homework, communication with parents and how new pupils are supported. Research the senior leadership team and the head. Really look at how the school is governed and the values that underpin that governance. A school that looks impressive on paper may not necessarily be the right fit for your child.
The key lesson for American families
The biggest adjustment is to reframe the question. Instead of asking, “Which school is assigned to this house?”, ask: “Which schools could my child apply to from this address, and how are places allocated?”
That change in perspective makes the English system much easier to navigate. Research the local admissions process before you move, prepare your documentation and make school choice part of your house-hunting decision. With the right preparation, what initially seems like a complicated system can become a manageable — and much less stressful — part of your move.
Relocating to London specifically- please read more here Relocating to London and Navigating the London School System – Lumos Education
For advice on state school admissions in London and across the UK, please contact us.
