So disappointed - can anyone explain to me exactly how offers work?

I find this article from the School Run website explains the preference system well. It should be sent to every parent!!!!
www.theschoolrun.com/equal-preference-system-explained

The School Run website has lots of good info on appeals, late applications etc.

the BBC article about admissions and appeals is more accurate than some newspapers, although I still think they mislead parents by stating how hard it is to win an appeal, and giving the reasons that need to apply for KS1 infant class size appeals only. However, they then give many examples of the things to say in ordinary prejudice appeals, without explaining the difference.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43783681

"Apparently we are 2006 metres away from the school, and the last place offered was 1705 metres. However, google tells me we are actually only 1827 metres, as the crow flies. Not that it would have made a difference and I imagine they'll say that they use a different calculator."

If they are using straight line distance, they will be using a system that uses seed points on your property and a designated seed point on the school property. If the school has more than one entrance, there should be a defined 'main' entrance which is used for the purpose of admissions. The calculations are normally performed to a stated accuracy. Some LAs state "to the nearest metre" others state "to the nearest 0.001 mile". So Google Maps may well not correspond with the stated distance. You are entitled to ask for them to double check the distance and to justify it.

Apparently we are 2006 metres away from the school, and the last place offered was 1705 metres. However, google tells me we are actually only 1827 metres, as the crow flies. Not that it would have made a difference and I imagine they'll say that they use a different calculator.

Raise this with admissions because that's how they have it recorded in their system. It may be that they don't use a straight line definition, but check it.

Prettyvase has been remarkably lucky

Agreed. Every year I come across people who think naming only one school (or even naming the same school multiple times) guarantees getting a place at that school. It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to your chances of getting that school. You may be lucky and get it but you may not. And, as others have said, if you miss out you may then end up with a terrible school that is miles away.

I wish we could kill off these myths once and for all. Unfortunately I don't think it will ever happen.

Coraldress thank you and good luck. And try to get some sleep!

I too am amazed by the lack of understanding. We don't live in a grammar school area, but we live next to one. As a result some kids (mine included) do get into grammar schools. Yet I keep coming up against parents who think we are in a grammar school area and either ask which of the schools are grammar schools, or presume that their kids will get in just because they pass the 11+

It's people like Prettyvase who are responsible for many people filling their forms in the way that is the least likely for success.

And whilst some HTs might imply their school needs to be put first for any chance of success, they are partially correct. But I also suspect that many parents misinterpret what they're saying and don't understand the system properly.

Prettyvase has been remarkably lucky. Most people aren’t. There’s a link above to the current thread where a misguided parent listed only one school and was instead offered an unpopular school that she’s determined her child won’t go to.

It’s because people persist in perpetuating this useless and wrong advice, which results in people shooting themselves in the foot, that I and several other posters with experience of appeals spend so much time trying to stop the misinformation.

I sometimes think that the only people who understand the system are those of us who sit on appeal panels and some of those who work in admissions. Certainly most heads and teachers don't really understand it.

@PrettyVase - that has only always worked because there was a space for your child at the school of your choice. Please don’t give out crap advice!

@PrettyVase - this is what happens when people follow advice like yours: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3521044-Upset-for-my-nephew-and-angry-with-my-sister

I have met so many people in my city who don't understand the admissions system and then get angry and upset when they don't get any of the schools they have listed - because they live on the opposite side of the city to all three popular, oversubscribed, academically successful schools they have listed and would never get a place there in a million years. They then get offered the failing schools equally far away, rather than the OK-but-not-brilliant schools they might be within catchment for if they had only put them down as a back-up choice.

There really needs to be better education and information for parents on how the system actually works.

You need to know why you didn't get school A. If they placed your son in the wrong admissions category, for example, that is a very strong case for appeal. Even if they got everything right you can still appeal as others have said. You don't lose anything by appealing and you might get a place. If you do choose to appeal you will get plenty of help on here from experts.

Yes she did, in fairness we heard relatively quickly (probably about 2 weeks after Mar 1st. She was initially offered a place at a school I'd never heard of (had to google it) so I think I was in shock and didn't sleep properly for those 2 weeks. I'm not really a crying sort of person but I burst into tears when I heard she'd actually got a place.

I agree with the other pp. accept the School B place but hold your nerve with the waiting lists.

I didn't get get my 1st choice when dd was going in 2016. However, I thanks my lucky stars everyday that it worked out that way for us as she's so suited to the school.
Having said that, I know plenty of people who have stuck the waiting lists out and been successful either before Sept or just after term starts. One friend of mine applied to one of the most over subscribed schools in our city (used to be a private school) who allocates places by lottery. Her dd missed out on a place and she accepted her local school, bought the uniform and everything. 2 weeks before the beginning of Y7 she got a call from her desired school! Honestly it can and does happen.
Good luck to you x

Coraldress, good luck we were in that position last year. DD started off 1st on list and LA said ah don't worry, that's a really good position then within a few days she'd dropped to 2nd and a different person at LA said maybe to put in for an appeal just in case..... Then a couple of parents at DD's school said they'd declined places so there should be vacancies but we heard nothing. Now I realise that after Mar 1st there is a lull whilst everything shakes down but at the time it felt like that elusive place was slipping further and further away and it was horrible. I know it's impossible hard but honestly I would try to just do something at the weekend to take your mind off it all because until you know where you are on waiting lists you can make no plans.

But I think a lot of people misunderstand what they hear as well. At DD's school open evening in 2017 the head teacher said if you really want your child to come to this school you must put it first on your preference list because it is very oversubscribed. I think some people assumed that meant if you put the school first you'd get a place not knowing that actually the advice was aimed at people not in catchment and that you should always also put down your catchment school. Unfortunately I think a lot of people don't understand how the system works (in fairness I only know because of MN) and so interpret what is said wrongly.

I have a friend who also only put one school (non-catchment) on her form last year. I think she was bloody lucky, looking at the allocation figures I reckon her DC was possibly the last child to get in on distance. This year she wouldn't stand a chance of getting in (massive bulge year in catchment) but unfortunately anyone who hears her experience will assume her method worked.

I have a df who upon divorcing sent her ds to a primary school in special measures in year 5/6 and who regaled in the tales of how his fellow pupils would lob chairs and tables, scream and swear at the teacher and at each other.

Frequent 'lockdowns' and pupils bringing knives to school were every day occurrences and the children had to go through some sort of security check like passport control in the end.

He is now at an excellent secondary and talks fondly of the 'exciting' early education he had and does not seem to be adversely affected by it.

The teachers he said, were absolutely amazing despite what the pupils were like. Her ds did extremely well there.

Being under special measures sometimes means more resources and excellent teachers drafted in apparently.

Sounds like there's a lot of misinformation given out. At all of the open evenings the headteachers were saying that if you don't put their school as your first choice, then you won't get in.

It's time for my annual rant about this. Headteachers routinely and deliberately give the false impression that putting their school first is essential to getting their child in. I have had so many conversations with people scared to put their perferred choice first because they think it will mean not getting their second choice either.

Don't beat yourself up about not misunderstanding. It's hardly surprising when this kind of deception goes on.

Yep prettyvase, you've just been lucky. It doesn't 'tell' them anything except you're not particularly bothered if your DC end up in a school miles away.

Op dont lose hope, my friend had this last year and was devastated (her DS was actually okish about it), she put his name on the waiting list anyway and as it happened when he was offered a place only a few months later he was pretty happy in his original school so ended up staying. Friendship groups from primary school do tend to dilute when they go to secondary school anyway ime but I know that's not much consolation now. Hope your DS is ok.