Priority rules primary school.

What priority rules are there?

Sometimes there are more applications than places at a primary school. The school can then decide which children are admitted based on priority rules. These rules differ per school and region. Before you register your child, ask what the priority rules are at the primary school you choose.

The most common rules are:

• Your child already has brothers or sisters at the same primary school
• You work at the primary school where you want to register your child
• You live in a priority area, usually close to the primary school. This is called postcode policy.
• Your child already attends a daycare closely connected to the primary school

Can a school use priority rules?

Not all priority rules are allowed. Schools may not make differences based on gender or origin. If you doubt whether the priority rules of the primary school are allowed, check the school policy (you can find this in the school guide) and ask the education inspectorate via the contact form.

If the primary school uses priority rules that are not allowed, you can do the following:

• Make a written objection against the decision to not admit your child. The school must tell you how to do this
• File a complaint with the school governing body. Read more about the complaints procedure
• Report it to the education inspectorate
• Talk with other parents with the same opinion to the school and the municipality
• If it is about discrimination, file a complaint at the human rights commission

Refused? 

Is your child refused at the primary school of your choice? That is of course unpleasant. A refusal can have several reasons. Reasons to refuse your child at the primary school are for example the school being full or that the school cannot give the right support to your child.