We applied, along with 400 other hopefuls, for a place at an outstanding secondary school for our ds1. 150 places went to 86 siblings, 30 to choristers and specialist music places, 5 or so to looked after children and the rest to random allocation. When results came out many who had 'connections' with the school got the final places. Two years later applying for ds2 the same has happened again. The school chose the remaining places via their random allocation computer, no involvement from the LEA! The idea that cherry picking and someone having a word in the right ear have been suggested but without proof what can be done. It makes me mad, my lovely boys missed out again because we don't have the right connections!