So, dd1 has been given the form for secondary applications today, but I have a few questions

[IllegallyBrunette]

Right, it says in the leaflet that we can apply for up to six schools, but doesn't mention if there is a minimum amount that you have to apply for. When I was at school, you had to put 3 choices.

I am assuming that as it hasn't suggested a minimum, then technically, I could just put one choice ??

Dd1 knows which school she wants, and luckily it is the same one that I want her to go to, however, I also want to put another school as back up, but dd1 doesn't want me to. Despite me telling her the rules of allocations, she thinks they will give her her second choice just to create another place at her top choice, but that wouldn't happen would it ??

Is putting just one choice too risky ?? Both schools are over subscribed. We live 0.33 miles away from first choice, and 0.96 miles away from second choice. Neither are our closest, which is only 0.25 miles away.

However, we may possibly be moving in the next 2/3 mths, and then our preference school would be ever so slightly further away, 0.43 miles, but it would then be our closest school. Second preference would be 1.05 miles away.

So, do I apply now, and put down both preferences or just the one, OR wait until we move and put down one or both schools ??

Reading this post back, it seems very long and rambly, sorry.

[IllegallyBrunette]

Oh and also, can I just say how old I feel now LOL.

[Hassled]

If I were you I'd put more than one preference. If you just go with School A, sod's law will be that there is a whole year's intake living closer than 0.33 miles away (unlikely, I know, but there could be a lot of siblings/Statemented kids who will be ahead of you in the pecking order), in which case the LEA will stick you in the next nearest school that still has places, and that could be miles away and crap.

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[Hassled]

Is this for September? A bit late, isn't it?

[jamescagney]

ok, do not just point down one choice. That means you do not have a "fallback" choice. Certainly fill in at least 3 if the top two for you are v popular/oversubscribed.
Look at the admissions policies for the school, you can request them with your application form. Some policies have a "first in family" criteria which allows new families to join the school, not merely geographic criteria. Sounds like the school places are being organised centrally. When is the closing date/date of selection? See if it is close to the date of your move, if it is then make sure you have paperwork ie transfer of utility bills or similar to prove your move.
hope that helps

[IllegallyBrunette]

Oh yes she is Cod, I feel ancient.

It is for next Sept, not this one. We have to of applied by October 3rd 08. If I am going to move, it should be done and dusted by then, so will probably leave applying until after the move.

Open evenings for both schools are in Sept, so would like to wait until I have been to those anyway before applying.

[GrapefruitMoon]

What Hassled said - and make sure you have a realistic chance of getting into the schools you put down. All too often in my area parents go around looking at all the schools, put down the ones they like best, even if they are on the other side of the city/in a different town. Then they wonder why they got offered the one in special measures that no-one wanted.

When is the closing date for applications? You need to be careful about moving house - check the rules first.

[IllegallyBrunette]

First choice admits 222 pupils, and in the past three years, they have had between 1107 and 1176 applications for places.

Second choice admits 210 pupils and in the last three years have had between 1219 and 1158 applications.

I will definatly put the two then I think. Not sure what I would put as a third tbh.

[stinkybear]

It's an equal preference system now, so they aren't really ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd in that way. I'm told most people get the school they want (don't know if I believe that!). It is a good idea to put your nearest school, just because if you don't get your chosen school then the LEA will put you where places are left at the end, which could be miles & miles away ... If you move after your application has gone in, and want to be considered from the new address you might be classed as a late application, which isn't much good for a popular school (check exactly what the LEA rules are on addresses). Weird time of year for applications, isn't it? Good luck anyway!

[IllegallyBrunette]

I would only be moving down the road, and it would actually make my first choice our closest school then.

Applications have to be in by Oct 3rd 08. I should know within the next few weeks wether I am definatly moving or not, and then actually move by end of Sept.

[christywhisty]

The figure of 1219 applications should be all applications made, not just 1st choice. So it could be that only 200 put it as highest rank IYSWIM, the other 1000 could be for ranks 2 to 6.

WE are doing it all again in September. Thankfully DD should have no problems getting in under sibling rule at DS's school, but we still want to give her a chance to see other schools.

[janeite]

Put both down, 1st choice and second, and write a letter alongside, telling them that you will be moving soon and will then be closer to choice one. They won't actually consider it until you HAVE moved but they will be aware of it.

If they are already over-subscribed, then do what somebody else has done and put the closest down as your third choice because if they are both too full of people who live closer than you do, you could end up being allocated a less popular school miles away, if you haven't specified a third.

It's a minefield isn't it?!

[IllegallyBrunette]

It certainly is a minefield.

I don't actually know anyone who has ever not been allocated a place at the schol we want, and some of them live futher away than we do, but obviously there is always a chance that it could happen.

[gagarin]

Absolutely fill in every space!

I'm a school governor and you'd never believe the amount of angst this causes.

If you put just one choice (and don't get it)- and leave the others blank you will not even be considered for a place anywhere until every other child who has expressed a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th choice is placed.

The same applies if you put the same school in every slot.

So your 2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th choices are equally as important as your 1st choice - more so if you are choosing a school you are unlikely to get into for your first choice.

You'd be advised to place a decent-ish school you might be able to get into in 2nd/3rd slots.

[pooodle]

1107 and 1176 applications for places.

wow! that is a HUGE number, is it just on distance or is it faith/siblings etc?

[CarGirl]

yes fill in some more choices otherwise they will allocate you wherever spaces are left if you do not get into the choices you have listed........

[charliecat]

where are you getting your numbers from nutty? id LOVE to know how many apply round here

[RustyBear]

Look on your council's website - they should have documents like those at the bottom of this page - the Secondary Admissions history one is useful.
Some councils will put this info in the guide to Secondary Admissions that they send out

[IllegallyBrunette]

We have been given a huge booklet containging details for all seocndary schools in the city.
If they are normally over subscribed then they have supplied figures to show how many applied for the last 3 years.

I am going to have another look through the book tonight and find at least one more, because as you say, if we have a third choice that i'd also be pretty happy with, then I should put it in. Rather that than end up with a school I just won't send her to.

We are incredibly lucky though, in that most of the secondary schools around here are good.

[charliecat]

cheers. got sidetracked by ofsted reports now. the one with the bad reputation sounds good on paper...they dont give out secondary stuff till the 11plus has been dealt with here

[IllegallyBrunette]

Dd doesn't want to do the eleven plus, which is fine by me, but only because she has a chpoice of good schools anyway. If she didn't have the such a choice then I probably would make push her to do it.

[charliecat]

yep which is what im doing just because if i dont and she ends up somewhere crap at least we tried.
Hope dd1 gets in somewhere good then the rest will follow

[clam]

Have heard of so many horror stories where people only name one preference, in the mistaken belief that the County will have to give it to them as they've stated no other. As someone else said, it makes no difference, if you don't qualify to get in (on whatever admission rules they have, and your booklet should detail them) then you won't get in, and will be allocated any school which still has places after everyone else has been sorted. Which usually means the sink school, I'm afraid.
Moral: fill all 6 preferences.

[gagarin]

But remember if you only fill in 3 places and then don't get a place at any of those 3 you will NOT be offered a place anywhere until EVERY OTHER child in the city has been placed.

Leaving any blanks at all is a VERY risky option.