Panicking about primary admission

[Messing]

Hi, hoping someone can advise:

I submitted our application for DS' primary in January, putting 3 non-catchment schools. I checked previous admission records for them; all of them do take some pupils from outside catchment (but all are oversubscribed, as are about 99% of schools in our town).

We have 1 catchment school; I didn't put it down because I hated it when I visited. Really, really didn't like it and (for various reasons) didn't think DS would fit in at all.

Now, there is another school just out of catchment which didn't make my 3 choices, but would have been my 4th choice, had I been allowed to make 4 rather than 3 choices. It's not oversubscribed, and another reception class is opening next year so would almost certainly have spaces.

I'm now worried that we won't get a place at any of the 3 choices I put down, and because I didn't put the 4th choice school down then that won't be allocated either - I have a horrible feeling we'll get put into the catchment school anyway, or some other school that's either dreadful (there are, sadly, a few in our area) or one that's miles away.

Is there anything I can do at this stage? Is it possible to contact the council and specify that if we don't get any of the 3 choices, we would rather have the 4th choice (where there's almost guaranteed to be a a space) rather than something else? I will turn up at their offices and beg on my knees if that would do the trick

TIA.

[meditrina]

I'm sorry but with only a month to allocations, there really isn't anything yo can do now. Yes, there is the possibility of your being allocated the nearest school with a vacancy if you do not secure an offer from any of your listed schools. And that may well mean your catchment school.

You can however go on the waiting list for the schools you prefer (even if they were not on our original form).

[Messing]

tthanks, Meditrina, thought that may be the case

[givemeaclue]

Hi, for the preferred schools that take children from outside catchment, was that on distance or could some of them have been looked after children, siblings etc? Did children outside catchment in Same admission category as yours get a place?

You can go on as many waiting lists as you want. If the 4th school has an extra class, perhaps there may be space there

[Spindelina]

If your 4th choice school still has spaces after everyone has been allocated, you can apply for a place there instead of the one you do get if you want to. If it has spaces, it has to give them to anyone who wants them, regardless of what has gone before. Only if it doesn't have spaces will there be a waiting list (which you can go on).

[BambooBear13]

I am not sure there is much you can do except wait and see, then Jin waiting lists if you don't like what you get. We could put 6 down. No harm phoning admissions just in case ?!?

[Messing]

first 3 schools took quite a few in same category as us last year, so there is some hope of getting in. thanks for all the advice, I will just have to sit tight til April.