Applications - is this sensible?

[JessicaPeach]

I posted this in a thread in chat but suspect it's already slipped down the page. I'm applying for 2018. My top 3 schools are below, with last years admissions info.

School 1 is very popular and I think it's highly unlikely that we will get in but if you don't ask you don't get so I've put that as first choice. We are 1mile away from this school as the crow flies

School 2 has been my top one for a while until I started entertaining the idea that something crazy could happen and we get school 1. It's a faith school with a worship requirement and is 2miles away as the crow flies. My mil takes my lb to our local church so we won't be top of the list but pretty close, even taking the distance into consideration

School 3 is my banker, under a mile as the crow flies, good ofsted etc but just a bit too big for it to be my first option.

Do these sound like sensible choices? Should I be not bothering with the first school and looking for another to put 2nd, leaving the banker 3rd?

[RueDeWakening]

Sounds sensible to me - you've got your banker on there, and you never know, you might get one of the other two.

Good luck!

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Looks sensible to me. Your banker is in last place and the others are in order of preference.

Might as well put the first choice on there, you never know what might happen.

[JessicaPeach]

No sibling following and I would like to move closer to school 1 regardless of which school he gets into so if we do have another then by then we should be within the admission distance for school 1 (thinking ahead pragmatically anyway as there is no sign of a sibling at this point! Also the age gap would be so big that sibling criteria might not apply, it could be that DS1 will have finished primary by the time DC2 might be going)

Im probably over thinking it now because although I do understand equal preference, im only hanging on by a thread before I get confused! If I have number 2 school down as 2nd choice would I have still got a place based on those numbers for last year? Even though school 1 is the dream I am very aware that it is probably a dream so I dont want that to jeopardise school 2 because im really not mad on school 3.

This is the admission criteria for school 2, we would fall into 6th on that list

1. Looked after children and chidlren who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship).
   

1. Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at this school.
   

1. Children resident in the ecclesiastical parishes of XXXXX
   

1. Children who have a sibling in school who will still be attending school the following year (or who have attended the school in the 2 years prior to admission).
   

1. Children whose parent/s or guardians are faithful and regular worshippers at XXXXX Parish Churches.
   

1. Children whose parent/s or guardian/s are faithful and regular worshippers in a church of another Christian denomination, recognised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
   

1. Children whose parent/s or guardian/s are members ond regular worshippers of another faith and wish their children to be edcuated in a Church School,
   

1. Children who live nearest to school measured in a straight line from the centrally plotted Basic Land and Property Unit Point (BLPU) of the childs home address to the centrally plotted BLPU point of the school as defined by Local Land and Property Gazateer (LLPG0>

[sirfredfredgeorge]

You didn't actually say you were regular worshippers, you said your MIL took your child to the local church, not that you did, and it's not actually worded at all about the child attending just the parents or guardians.

So if you care, then you need to check this, and also check exactly what proof the school needs for regular worship even if your MIL and child can acquire this.

Either way, where it is on the list makes no difference, if you qualify you're in if you qualified for nothing higher.

Personally I'd go for the larger school that is closer, for lots of reasons, but that's me!

[JessicaPeach]

Thats very true actually sir fred, I wouldnt mind going but my MIL likes taking him to show off. The supplementary form does say parent/guardian and asks for a letter from the minister or other church officer is required. Maybe i'll have to start going with them, im going to the school open day at the weekend so I will ask then. The supplementary forms go straight to the school so hopefully they will know.

There are a few reasons Im not so keen on the larger school, my DS is painfully shy, has really struggled (and still is) at preschool, doesnt like large groups, loads of noise etc. Also I know one of the reception teachers as she has a DS the same age as mine and having seen the way she speaks to her own son it has massively put me off. I wouldnt mind if she was further up the school but I think his reception experience is going to be tough as it is without that concern added in. I might be putting a bit too much emphasis onto all those things, I wouldnt really mind if he had to go to school 3 but I would prefer him not to. I am going to look round it though to see if I do like it, im guessing if it came to it I could request he wasnt in her class? Will cross that bridge if and when it comes to it I suppose.

[user789653241]

Good thing about larger school is that there are more choice of friends, especially if the child is shy. Small or large school, they both have 30 children in class anyway.
Also close school are always easier to arrange playdate etc., if the child needs a bit of push at forming friendship.

[whoareyou123]

Don't the notes say "By faithful and regular we mean attendance at a minimum of one service per month for at least one year prior to the closing date for applications"?

If so you are too late to start going now to apply for a September 2018 place if it has to be parents/guardians.

(the admission criteria 8 only seems to be applicable to one school...)

[JessicaPeach]

Only 15 in reception at the smaller school which I think he will cope much better with. The school that is 2 miles away is along a rural road rather than across town with loads of kids inbetween if that makes sense. Quite a few of the pupils from the school live in the same place as us so im not worried about the distance from that perspective. He is at the preschool for that school at the moment and most kids go to that school so im putting some leg work in for the friendships now! Its all hard work isnt it, I was that child who ran in, never looked back, loved school, this is all really alien to me! My husband on the other hand didnt really settle in school until about year 5!

[JessicaPeach]

Yes thats right whoareyou, thats the criteria for that specific school, theres a list of the ones on our council website that have anything slightly different to normal. I think we will be ok getting into school 2 even if we were considered under the 8th criteria. Last year they didnt apply any of the criteria because the number of applicants was lower than the places so hopefully it will be the same again.

Its probably too late for me but I may as well add the letter saying he goes with MIL just in case it does have any bearing, will see what they say at the open day. Im trying to be quite pragmatic about it, im lucky really that there are a lot of nice schools to choose from!

[Paddington68]

Currently you don't fit into the no 6 criteria of school two. Check how they define regular. It is usually once. month for two years, so you wouldn't fit this criteria, unless the vicar was happy to count your MIL as 'parent' and sign the form.

[NobodyKnowsMeAtAll]

Just as a thought (sorry to confuse the issue) but 15 in reception = very small school. That isn't all it is cracked up to be tbh:

1. Funding. It takes around 25 pupils to fund a teacher. Less than that and schools can struggle. I am guessing this means the smaller school has mixed Yr1/2 3/4 5/6 classes of 30. Mixed classes are not a bad thing - but you just may not get the small classes throughout his school years. Check this out - don't just assume 15 in reception equals a class of 15.
   
   
2. Friendships. 15 children. Only 15 to find your buddies. Take 7/8 away as they are girls (and not being sexist - it is just what happens). So 7/8 people to gel with. And if you dont'? Who do you play with. My DS was in a class of 10 in reception. All the boys were alpha/football playing. He was not. Still is not. He felt a bit like a fish out of water tbh. When we moved and he was in a class of 30 he found his people iyswim.
   
   
3. Friends to challenge you. On the other hand when DD was in the smaller class (hers was only a class of 7) she was very much the big fish in a small pond. Very bright and advanced for her age. Stretched brilliantly by the school, yes, but found it difficult being so clearly "top" of everything. She too preferred the larger class of 30 when we moved.
   
   
4. Resources. Linked to the funding. Bigger schools have economies of scales and space. For play equipment, learning resources, sports stuff. Not a tiny meadow and having to trek to the village Rec to do sports day.
   
   If I had my time again I would seriously, seriously not consider "big" schools a negative. More a positive.

[twinone]

I spoke to admission's for secondary entry last year.
I was advised:

1. School you would really like.
   
2. Banker
   
3. An aspirational choice.
   

Not sure how solid the advice was but we did get 1st choice.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Check that there isn't a criteria for regular worship. Technically I think there should be but some schools don't. It sometimes comes down to whatever the person in charge of signing the supplementary form decides is regular.

I think you are likely to find you are in category 8 though. Which doesn't mean you won't get in, it's just less likely.

[Herechickychicky]

You're not Category 6, you're Category 8. Your MIL is presumably not your DS's legal guardian. You may get in under distance though obviously.

In general, always put your true preferences first, however unlikely, and your banker last. So your order is right.

Good luck :)