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Admissions

42 replies

Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 16:10

im applying for my child’s secondary school, his first choice school we are out of catchment and not in feeder school, so would only be allocated a space via aptitude test, he sat aptitude test which takes top 10% (24 children) he scored 39 in previous years the lowest score allocated in the 10% was 2024 - 43
2023 - 37
2022 - 38
2021 - 35
2020 - 41
2019 - 39
2018 - 33
his second choice of school he is in a 9% feeder school (30 children in a class only one class per year) also sat the aptitude and scored 52 average score this year was 41 and last years lowest score that was accepted on aptitude was 51, no previous years data available. Do I jeopardise his place at the second choice school if I put it second and not first? As I’m confident if I put his second choice school he’s likely to be allocated it as feeder and aptitude, however his heart is really set on first choice school, but I’m unsure his score is sufficient enough and I don’t want to lose his second choice school as his back up as it is also a very over subscribed school with lots of children listing it first whereas we would be listing as second. HELP!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 21:06

clary · 10/10/2024 20:32

Yes @Ml2210 as everyone says, you need to list schools in your genuine order of preference.

If your preferred school is a real long shot – you should still list it first. If your second favourite school is a cert then list it second – no the LA will not fill it with other people who put it first before giving you a place unless a) you get into your first choice or b) those other people live closer (or whatever the criterion is).

So we live out of catchment for a very popular school, and (literally) round the corner from another. If I listed the popular school first and the nearby school second, I would have got a place at the popular school if we were places were allocated far enough away that year (it varies, much like the attainment test your DC sat); if no place there, I would have got the local school.

Someone further away from me who listed the local school first would not leapfrog me in that scenario.

Edited

Thank you so much, it’s not made very clear how it works so i appreciate you explaining it

OP posts:
clary · 10/10/2024 20:32

Yes @Ml2210 as everyone says, you need to list schools in your genuine order of preference.

If your preferred school is a real long shot – you should still list it first. If your second favourite school is a cert then list it second – no the LA will not fill it with other people who put it first before giving you a place unless a) you get into your first choice or b) those other people live closer (or whatever the criterion is).

So we live out of catchment for a very popular school, and (literally) round the corner from another. If I listed the popular school first and the nearby school second, I would have got a place at the popular school if we were places were allocated far enough away that year (it varies, much like the attainment test your DC sat); if no place there, I would have got the local school.

Someone further away from me who listed the local school first would not leapfrog me in that scenario.

TickingAlongNicely · 10/10/2024 20:24

The general process is

  • the schools get a list of everyone who applied, with no reference to preference.
  • the school puts the applications in order of how they meet the criteria.
  • the top 200 (or the PAN) are allocated a space.
  • the computer checks for any duplicate offers, and cancels any that the parent has listed lower.
  • the waiting list shuffles up, and new allocations made
  • again the computer checks for duplicates.
  • this repeats until everyone has one offer. Then anyone without an offer is allocated their nearest school with a place.

So on offer day, your offer is your highest preference school that could make you an offer

Lougle · 10/10/2024 20:23

Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:19

Sorry to sound silly but what does this mean?

Show quote history

It means that a person doesn't sit and think @Ml2210 didn't really want school 2.... A computer system ranks all the applicants in order and shuffles them until everyone has the highest preference school that they qualify for, or an alternative if they didn't qualify for any of their preferences, or, rarely, no school if there are no spaces left.

Lougle · 10/10/2024 20:21

If you put school 1 first and he has scored highly enough to get into school 1, he will get school 1.

If you put school 1 first and he has not scored highly enough for school 1, he will likely get school 2 (if he's scored highly enough).

If you put school 2 first and he has scored highly enough to get into school 1, he will school 2 even though he scored well enough to get into school 1.

PUT SCHOOL 1 FIRST.

Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:19

TheGoldenGate · 10/10/2024 19:45

In most cases it is algorithm that allocates space

Sorry to sound silly but what does this mean?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:18

NeedSleepLotsOfSleep · 10/10/2024 18:10

Put in true order of preference.

You will not jeopardise your place. You will be allocated wherever has a place the highest in your preferences. Basically they look at all your preferences decide which ones you can be offered a place at and offer the highest preference which can offer a place. You are not penalised for putting your favourite first. If they can’t offer they will give the 2nd favourite (assuming a place is available).

Please please please put your true order of preferences.

Thank you so much! I have been so stressed about it all and so many parents saying you lessen your chance by putting a school in second place compared to a child that has put it first it’s so hard to wrap my head around so thank you for clarifying! So in theory if he doesn’t get his first choice as because he doesn’t score high enough with his high aptitude results on second choice school and it being a feeder he theoretically should get a place there? But would they not allocate all the children in his class that put that particular school first over him as he has listed it as second?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:18

SunblockSue · 10/10/2024 18:09

Am I right in reading 1 form entry at a secondary school (second choice school) - if so that is tiny and I would avoid. Surely I've misunderstood?

he is currently in a one form primary school of 30 children the secondary school has 240 places per year

OP posts:
Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:16

NeedSleepLotsOfSleep · 10/10/2024 18:10

Put in true order of preference.

You will not jeopardise your place. You will be allocated wherever has a place the highest in your preferences. Basically they look at all your preferences decide which ones you can be offered a place at and offer the highest preference which can offer a place. You are not penalised for putting your favourite first. If they can’t offer they will give the 2nd favourite (assuming a place is available).

Please please please put your true order of preferences.

Thank you so much! I have been so stressed about it all and so many parents saying you lessen your chance by putting a school in second place compared to a child that has put it first it’s so hard to wrap my head around so thank you for clarifying! So in theory if he doesn’t get his first choice as because he doesn’t score high enough with his high aptitude results on second choice school and it being a feeder he theoretically should get a place there? But would they not allocate all the children in his class that put that particular school first over him as he has listed it as second?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ml2210 · 10/10/2024 20:14

Thank you so much! I have been so stressed about it all and so many parents saying you lessen your chance by putting a school in second place compared to a child that has put it first it’s so hard to wrap my head around so thank you for clarifying! So in theory if he doesn’t get his first choice as because he doesn’t score high enough with his high aptitude results on second choice school and it being a feeder he theoretically should get a place there? But would they not allocate all the children in his class that put that particular school first over him as he has listed it as second?

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/10/2024 19:56

The only people who know who you put down as your first preference work for the local authority handling the co-ordinated admissions scheme. Oh, and the school that gets told just before the National Offer Day emails go out that you've been offered a place.

Put your first choice first, your second choice second, etc, etc. Otherwise you'll get offered a school you didn't really want as much and have less chance of being offered a place at your favourite school in the second round offers (if there are any) than before.

TheGoldenGate · 10/10/2024 19:45

In most cases it is algorithm that allocates space

NeedSleepLotsOfSleep · 10/10/2024 18:10

Put in true order of preference.

You will not jeopardise your place. You will be allocated wherever has a place the highest in your preferences. Basically they look at all your preferences decide which ones you can be offered a place at and offer the highest preference which can offer a place. You are not penalised for putting your favourite first. If they can’t offer they will give the 2nd favourite (assuming a place is available).

Please please please put your true order of preferences.

SunblockSue · 10/10/2024 18:09

Am I right in reading 1 form entry at a secondary school (second choice school) - if so that is tiny and I would avoid. Surely I've misunderstood?

TickingAlongNicely · 10/10/2024 18:09

Schools don't know the order you put them in.

TeenToTwenties · 10/10/2024 18:06

MN have now moved thread.

No you do not jeopardise your chance if you put schools in your true order of preference.

YellowAsteroid · 10/10/2024 17:41

This is the section of MN university professionals as stated at the top of the forum. You’ll get more help in the correct bit of MN for your query about schools