Q & A

Don't sit there scratching your head! If you have our Premium membership, then we'll provide clear and honest answers to your complex questions on school admissions and appeals. We have listed your popular queries here.

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You can filter the questions by selecting your category from the list on the right. (Don't worry, answers to all sensitive questions that relate to your specific circumstances are emailed directly to you - we only put generic Q&As on the site).

Category: All

What are the chances of getting shopped for fraud if I lie about my address?

Funnily enough, we asked the Council the very same thing in January 2020! Their response was staggering... 

How can we avoid falling foul of the rules if we move house to get the school we really want?

Ah yes, this is the most popular question that we get asked nowadays... 

What does Parmiter's motto mean - Nemo Sibi Nascitur?

Luckily SchoolGuru's Grandad was a Latin teacher, so we know this one... 

We're targeting Sandringham and Beaumont schools for our son. Where should we move to?

You've got great taste when it comes to secondary schools – Sandringham and Beaumont are two of the most sought after non-selectives in the county...

My son is desperate to get into Watford Grammar School for Boys. However, in the consortium test, he scored just a couple of points off the mark it says we need. We live in the catchment area, what are our chances?

Well done to your son for doing so well. We hate the fact that kids like yours could be made to feel like a failure. The system sucks. So what can you do? OK... 

We haven't got any of our preferences and have been allocated a school we didn't choose. Now what?

We know how dreadful this feels, but dry your eyes. Here's how you can turn this around...

If I put a school first, will it increase my chances?

We've heard headteachers give misleading info on this one... you know who are... 

I want to buy a house next to Parmiter's, will that get my daughter a place?

It's a tall order for any house to get you into one of the county's hottest schools. But this is how you can maximise your chances...

What's the 'pass mark' for the academic tests?

A 'pass mark'... now if only it were that easy...

I am a dad of a 2 year old and confused with everyone talking about waiting lists from birth. Have I missed the boat already?

Oh, we've all heard the tales about mothers phoning round the top schools before they've delivered the placenta. But this is how you should play it...

Will the order I rank my schools affect my chances of getting in?

OMG if you only learn one thing from this website, then this should be it...

My child's just been offered a place at a nursery that's attached to my local community school. Does this mean we'll get a place in Reception?

It's really important that you understand your position here... so many people make incorrect assumptions...