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Original poster

secondary applications and how to order them

32 replies

cakeymccakington · 04/10/2018 22:36

ok i'm begging someone to please help me here.

Before I start I just want to say that I'm autistic and I'm really obsessing over this, so please be kind to me! I'm really sorry if tons of people have been asking this stuff lately.

I cannot decide on a school to apply for for my son. There is only one school that I've visited that I've actually really liked and can see him settling in well at. Unfortunately it's Catholic and we are not. Last year it didn't admit any non-church going children, so it's not looking good for us. BUT, I do feel like I want to list it just in case

What I want to know though, is if I put the school closest to me as my second choice (still not my catchment school) and someone else who lives further away puts it as their first choice.... would they get it over me because I've only put it second?

I've actually emailed the admissions team already this evening but they say they are taking 10 working days to reply to emails because they're so busy right now, so I am counting on you knowledgeable people to help me out here.

I know that people will say it's pointless putting a school as first choice when it's so unlikely that we would get a place, but I just feel I need to at least TRY for a place there. I'm genuinely really cut up about it and wishing I hadn't visited and seen how lovely it is!

anyway, i'm nervous blathering so i'll just post this now

OP posts:
Original poster
cakeymccakington · 04/10/2018 23:01

The head teacher at one of the schools said that they do the allocations in a weird way here (west Sussex) so this is what has got me worried now!

OP posts:
Original poster
cakeymccakington · 04/10/2018 23:00

No, I'm not very sure at all.
We are about 200m over the catchment line. A lot of kids from our "side" do go to the school, but last year they only took 10 from out of catchment (some were further away than me though)

My catchment school is awful and I really don't want to put it down.
The only other choices are going to be really difficult to get to.
I think pretty much all bar 2 of the schools here are over subscribed

OP posts:
raspberryrippleicecream · 04/10/2018 22:56

You say your second choice is not your catchment school although its closest. Are you very sure you would get a place? If not your third choice should be a school you are reasonable happy with and that you are fairly certain to get a place.

raspberryrippleicecream · 04/10/2018 22:53

Its absolutely fine to put your aspirational school first, and you should.

All applications for each school are put into order according to admission criteria. Your preferences only come into consideration if you fit the admission criteria for more than one school, and you are offered the school you have placed highest.

Original poster
cakeymccakington · 04/10/2018 22:51

thank you!
now I just need to find one i;m happy to put third... just in case

OP posts:
kindascaredish · 04/10/2018 22:49

Hi!

Your preference for schools doesn't make you more or less likely to be allocated that school. The schools don't know what place you've put them.

If you are eligible for a place at both schools A and B but you put A as first choice you would be given A, but if you put B as first choice you would be given B.

The preferences only matter if you are eligible for a place at more than one school.

Put the schools in true order of preference, if the places are on distance and you are closer, and don't get your first choice, you will be offered a place at the school over someone who is further away who may have put the school as first choice.

I hope that makes sense!! :)

Mimena · 04/10/2018 22:49

Order doesn’t matter, your chances of getting your second choice school are unaffected by you not putting it first. No doubt someone will explain the mechanism, but that’s the upshot.

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