Applying for reception place..help?

[Paddingtonthebear]

The online application system is open today to apply for reception places for September 2017.

I'm looking at the system and it asks to choose my three preferred schools and there are reason tick boxes for each - catchment, religion, distance, siblings, social, medical etc. I have chosen our catchment school and then two nearest schools. Two of our preferred schools are C of E, though we are not church goers, one is our catchment school and the other is the next nearest. Do I select the religious tick box even though we are not applying on these grounds or submitting the SIF form? I read a thread on here a while ago and someone said they didn't tick the religious reason box for their preferred school which was c of e because they weren't applying on religious grounds but it meant they didn't get a place because of it.

Also there is a free text area for "Reason notes". Do I need to write anything in that? I also read on here previously that that box is just to make parents feel better and isn't looked at.

[prh47bridge]

It shouldn't matter which of the "reason" boxes you tick. They should not play any part in the admissions process. They may indicate to the LA which admission category you think you should be in but the admission authority should be making its own mind up, not relying on you getting it right. I'm not sure which thread had a poster who claimed they did not get a place at a CofE school because they didn't tick the "religious reason" box but it is more likely they missed out because they didn't meet the church attendance criteria or failed to submit the necessary evidence. You certainly won't increase your chances of getting a place by ticking the "religious" box if you aren't submitting the SIF.

The Admissions Code says that the form must give parents space to state their reasons for wanting a particular school. However, the reasons play no part in the process unless your reason puts your child in a higher admission category, e.g. giving evidence of medical needs.

[Paddingtonthebear]

Thanks. I think I will just tick the "catchment" box for our first choice school and then "distance" for the other two.

[catslife]

What type of C of E school paddington. There are 2 different types: VA or voluntary aided usually require church attendance (but sometimes there are a small number of community places for local families). VC schools are voluntary controlled and don't usually require regular church attendance.
You may need to also send the SIF and tick the box to say you are applying on distance grounds only. I would check with the schools first.
PS There is no advantage in applying very early.

[Paddingtonthebear]

They are voluntary controlled, and church attendance isn't required. The first is our nearest school and the best locally which is why it's our preference. We are not religious and not going to lie about religion or anything. If it is over subscribed within catchment then church attendees in catchment do get priority over non church goers in catchment but that's the rules I guess. I was only asking about ticking the box either way as someone on here mentioned it but they must have been confused. I would prefer a non religious school in all honesty but we don't have that choice locally

[Paddingtonthebear]

Yes I know there is no advantage to applying early. Just gets it out of the way sooner rather than later