Mumsnet Talk

Does anyone know? if you get given your first choice of school but you have now decided you want your 2nd or 3rd - can anything be done?

I'm assuming you think your 2nd and 3rd choices will be fully subscribed. This may not be the case. Last year my DCs school had places whereas for the last few years there have been appeals each year.

My Dcs letters for secondary schools stated we could appeal for our 2nd and 3rd choices if we wished.

I think you need to check with your LA/individual schools what happens after Offer Day. Its certainly possible to change your mind.

should i be letting the LA know now that i would like to change my choices?

You can't change your choice at this stage unless you have a very good reason such as moving house. However, once the offer letters have come out you are entitled to ask to go on the waiting list for your 2nd and 3rd choices and appeal for places at those schools.

what reason would i give - would it be enough that i made a mistake and really wanted the school that i had put as 2nd choice?

angeleyes, the one thing not to do is make any attempt to change the preferences before the 1st March or even speak to the LA about it. If you do you will be considered a late application and therefore go to the bottom of the pile when it comes to school admissions.
See what happens on the 1st March and then if you get the school that you do not now rate then you should accept that school, as a back up position but then ask for an appeal and go on the waiting lists to the school that you now prefer.
The reasons you give can be as simple as more information has come to my attention that means that school B is preferable over school A but being realistic this is not a very good reason to admit. You are going to have to be much more specific on the reasons for such a change of heart as there will be plenty of others appealing, all with good reasons to want the school.

Call your local authority - I did and they were very helpful (no queues for calling at this time of year, but may be in early March).

Moving house is really about the only acceptable reason for changing choices at this stage, and most LAs won't even accept that as it is too late in the process. As Admission says, attempting to change your preferences now risks you being treated as a late application. Wait until the offer letters come out and then decide what to do.

Thanks everyone - have decided to remember why i made choices as i did and hope all goes well on dreaded offer day

oh now the day is looming - i'm not sure what to do. if my dd gets her 1st choice and we decide that it would have been better for her to have her 2nd choice, do i phone the school (both 1st and 2nd choices are VA schools)? do i speak to the LA (schools are in different authorities), or do i go with my initial feelings and be happy with 1st school (if we get it)? what should i be looking for in comparing the 2 schools?

If you get the first choice but decide you want the second choice you should accept the place at your first choice and ask to go on the waiting list for your second choice.