Primary school waiting lists

[haggis81]

Can anyone clarify how they work in this context?

We are near school A, approx 700m away, and school B, approx 1,100m away. In previous years we have been on the edge of the catchment for school A (outstanding, popular) and well within the much bigger catchment area for school B, but B’s catchment area is rapidly shrinking as it develops a good reputation (it is a new school and the top years have not filled up yet). Last year the last child admitted by distance was 1,300m away, and the catchment could shrink again further this year because of a bigger sibling intake as well as its growing reputation.

We prefer school B even though it is further away. If we put it as first choice, and A as second choice, do we stand a bigger risk of getting neither of them than if we put our closer school, school A, first?

I guess I’m asking if a child’s place on a waiting list for a particular school is affected by whether it was the parents’ first choice or second/third etc, or whether all children who didn’t get into that school go on the waiting list in order of distance regardless of where it was ranked in parents’ lists.

Hope I’m explaining myself well enough. Grateful for any experts out there!

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Neither affect your chances of getting on to the other school.

What you are saying is... if I am (my child) eligible for a place at both schools, I’d like to be offered a place at school B please. That’s it!

All applications are treated individually, not based on where you ranked them.

[AlunWynsKnee]

No you haven't messed it up. Position on the list should be preference. You application to each school is assessed in isolation. If you qualify for both schools you get your highest preference.

[RedskyLastNight]

Waiting lists are held in order of admissions criteria. So if distance is the top criterion, they will be held in distance order.
It makes no odds to your waiting list position where you listed a school in your original preferences (or indeed, if you listed it at all!)

[haggis81]

Thanks so much everyone. That seems pretty clear! Really glad we can apply for our top school without worrying that if we don’t get it we’ll end up with a school at the bottom of our list.