'choices'

[idiuntno57]

so in London you get 6 school 'choices'

I've visited tons and can only find 5 that we & DS would be happy with. Do we leave box 6 blank?

[RandomMess]

Erm they aren't "choices" they are preferences.

How likely are you to get into any of the 5 you have put in? What will you do if he doesn't get offered a place at any of them?

[idiuntno57]

Well that is my question really. We have a chance with each but none is a shu in.

If we don't get into one of them then the council allocate one and we push for one of the 5. Is this better than getting our 'choice' which we don't actually like and it being difficult to argue our case because we 'chose' number 6

[RandomMess]

Nope. If they allocate you a school place they have fulfilled their duty whether it was on your list or not.

If you accept a place it does not stop you going on the waiting list for the others, doesn't stop you appealing.

Far better to have a school you wouldn't choose on your doorstep than at the other side of the borough and not getting anywhere else on appeal or off the waiting list IMHO

[catslife]

Am not in London, but a large city where the "best" schools are all very oversubscribed and do know people who weren't allocated any of their 3 preferences.
It is usually recommended that your final preference should be your closest school or your catchment school. You may not like it that much, but what can happen is that you could end up with the worst school in the borough that is miles away from where you live rather than the "OK but not ideal one" that's just down the road and easy to get to.
Hope that makes sense.

[bigTillyMint]

I agree, they are not choices, they are preferences.

My advice is be realistic with your choices - no point putting down a school with a small catchment that you live miles from as number 1 choice, because you won't stand a cat in hell's chance of getting it.

[TeenAndTween]

At number 6 you put your rubbish catchment school.
better a rubbish school on your doorstep than a rubbish school an hour away.

[RandomMess]

LOL TeenAndTween, I shouldn't have bothered being quite so tactful

[bigTillyMint]

Yep, I agree T&T and Random

And, OP, remember that even after September places come available so it is worth staying on the waiting lists of schools you would prefer her to go to, and keep ringing them. But you might be lucky and get somewhere you are happy with straight off.

[idiuntno57]

We don't have a catchment school. None are a 100% cert, crap or not.

But what you are suggesting is go through the list of the ones we didn't like and plonk for the nearest as number 6. Even when like all the others we can't guarantee to get into (none of them fit this).

Frankly my 'preference' would be for everyone to go to the nearest school but I see the logistical and societal issues with this.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Either the nearest, or one you are most likely to get in too, that is reasonable to get too.

[RandomMess]

Not the nearest the one you are most likely to get into based on previous data.

Just saying your nearest could be CofE and have a faith criteria etc.

[SecretBondGirl]

What happens if you reject a place the council has found for you and it's not a school you've put down as a preference. Do you then as a child without a school place still remain at the top of the waiting list for schools you prefer?

[titchy]

You can remain on waiting lists yes, but you won't get any priority just cos you're without a place.

The LEA is obliged to find a place, but if it is at a school you didn't list and you reflect that place the LEA is under no obligation to find another place.

[RandomMess]

You are placed on the waiting list by the admissions criteria. Whether you have a place elsewhere or not doesn't influence it.

This is why your position can move up and down the waiting list as someone new can join the list and fulfil a higher criteria.

[Mintyy]

Ha!

For me and our chidren in London we had one choice for primary and two for secondary. Such a joke.

[SecretBondGirl]

Can you be on the waiting list for any number of schools and do they contact the people on the waiting list immediately when a place becomes available?

[SecretBondGirl]

Thanks Tiggytape that's great information