An important consideration for parents is deciding which school their children should attend – applications for primary school places open in September and close on 15th January each year.
Parents can spend countless hours considering schooling options and attending open days, only for there to be a disagreement with the other parent as to which school is best for their children.
Whilst parents appreciate the importance of choosing the right school for their children, they may not be aware that such decisions should not be made without the agreement of the other parent, regardless of whether that parent is now no longer their partner (either through separation or divorce).
Any parent who has parental responsibility for a child must agree on important issues which will have an impact on the child, this includes schooling.
Generally, a mother will automatically hold parental responsibility; a father will hold parental responsibility if they were married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth or if they are registered on the child’s birth certificate.
If an agreement as to schooling cannot be reached then an application to the Court may have to be made so a Judge can determine the issue based on what they consider to be in the best interest of the children.
If you are unable to agree on the school that your child should attend, you may benefit from taking advice on the options available to you. Advice should be taken as early as possible, to ensure that the 15 January deadline can be met.
At Rayden Solicitors, we have a team of specialist family lawyers, mediators and arbitrators who can work with you in order to assist you with resolving any disputes over your children’s education and any family-related matters. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are effected by any of the issues raised in this blog.
