Hampshire Secondary School Application form questions

[iholt]

Hi,
I know that this question has been asked a number of times (through searching the forum), but I'm not sure the answers are clear enough for me, so I was hopeing someone would be kind enough to help.

1. The form allows you to select 3 secondary schools. We will be out of catchment for all the 3 we want (catchment school has a poor reputation and we can't afford to move). On the form there is an additional information box. Reading through the threads it appears that unless you have supporting evidence for admissions criteria (SEN, sibling etc), this is redundant. Is that correct? If so, how do you know for certain? I would like to save effort in writing 3000 letters about how brilliant my DD is, if it makes no difference. But, what happens when there are 2 children out of catchment living the exact same distance away, yet only one place, how is the choice made? Alphabetically?
   
   
2. Should we put out catchment school as one of the choices, just incase we don't get a place at the other 2? If we dont do we run the risk of being placed somewhere far away. Bearing in mind that the catchment school had 142 places last year and only 54 were taken up.... that is a pretty bad sign to me (alongside the shockingly bad by comparison A-C %s).
   
   Sorry for the long post, I hope someone can provide some insight.
   
   Thanks.

[TalkinPeace2]

iholt
I suspect you live near me!
Did your catchment school have an arts festival last night?

For my DCs I put - feeder school, social reasons (riding, dancing, swimming)
and then crossed my fingers.
But yes, put your catchment on as backup.

NB in Southern Hampshire, what happened last year is NOT a good guide to this year because of newly opened housing developments

[iholt]

Thanks everyone.
We're thinking we'll risk it... famous last words, otherwise that really only leaves 2 choices as I'm really not sure about the catchment school as a 3rd choice.
Which is Quilley BTW.

[goldygumdrops]

I guess it will depend on what school you want. If its Thornden- probably not a chance. If its Crestwood, you will probably get in.

[TalkinPeace2]

iholt
one of my day jobs involves looking at population change in small areas in Hampshire.
Feel free to message me with the names of your choice schools and I'll check what the population is likely to be doing by March ....

[ProPerformer]

OP do you by any chance live in the Basingstoke area? If so PM me.

[ProPerformer]

(I work in that area in schools!)