Enrolling in a school outside your catchment zone

Out-of-area enrolment

Schools can accept enrolments from parents who live outside that school’s local enrolment area if places are available.

But there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.

Applications from parents outside a local enrolment area are usually assessed on a range of criteria, including:

• if siblings are already enrolled at the school
• if you have a child with disability or additional needs that are better met at this school
• medical reasons such as improved access to specialist local health services
• special interests and abilities such as language or music classes.

There are usually separate forms for applications to attend a school outside your catchment zone.

Check with the school to confirm application requirements and cut-off dates.

If a non-local enrolment is refused

If you enrolled at a primary school outside your local enrolment area and were not offered a place, you can appeal the decision.

Check with the school to find out what their process is, but it will generally require you to write a letter to the principal outlining the reasons why you’re appealing the decision.

If you are not satisfied by the outcome of that letter, the matter can then be referred to a local principals network or similar independent body to make a final decision.