Throughout your child’s life there will be a number of important decisions that you need to make as a parent. Unless you're the only parent with parental responsibility for your child, these decisions need to be agreed upon between you and the other parent.

One of the big decisions to make is which school your child should attend. It's important to start the discussion about this with the other parent as early as possible and perhaps view all potential schools together to try and help in making your decision.

There are obviously numerous factors that come into play when determining which school your child will go to including whether or not you live in the catchment area for that school and whether there is a place for your child.

What To Do If You Can't Agree

Assuming that the requirements are met for more than one school, what do you do if you cannot agree on which school to put as first choice?

You could attend Family Mediation to discuss the reasons that you each wish to choose a specific school in a more formal setting. If this doesn't work and a decision cannot be reached, you can make an application to the Court for a Specific Issue Order and ask the Court to decide which school your child should attend.

The Court will look at the reasons you both have for a particular school, as well as information about the school including the Ofsted rating. Once the Court has decided on the school, the application can then be made for a place. Your child must attend that school unless both parents agree on an alternative or the Court makes a further Order.

If you need advice regarding your children, you can contact our Family Solicitors in Rochdale who will be happy to help. Please give us a call on 01706 644187.