How do the councils schools admissions team do it?

[DrinkRefilled]

But of a specific question, but maybe someone works for them or happens to know.

The process of taking all of the school applications for September- is it done automatically by a computer or by hand?

I know obviously about priorities to being in the catchment, siblings at the school etc so my question isn’t surrounding that part.

The deadline was the middle of January but we find out in April. What takes so long?
For those who don’t get their choices do they give them a better chance of getting choice 2 or 3?

Anything you might know please share!

I think it must all be done by computer, but what I can tell you is that in England it is an equal preference system. You don't get priority by putting a school first. If I put a school first and you put it sixth, but you meet the admissions criteria better than me (e.g. by having a sibling, living closer, etc) you would get the place over me. You list your schools in preference order, and (regardless of where it is on your list) you are put on the list as having 'applied' to that school, and that list is ordered according to the admissions criteria, not who has put it first, second, etc. The only time that the order you put the schools in on your preference form matters if if more than one school is able to offer you a place, in which case you'll be offered a place at the school that is highest in your preferences (as everyone can only have one offer).

So no, not getting your top choice doesn't increase the chances of getting choices 2 or 3, etc If you aren't in the top X places of people who have applied to any of your schools, then you won't get in, and the LEA will offer you a place at the nearest school with places available (after those who applied to that school on their preference form).

I probably haven't explained that very well but hope it makes sense! There's a programme you might find interesting that I think is still on YouTube called 'The Big School Lottery' that shows Birmingham LEA (which I think is the biggest in the country) allocating places, and follows the story of some of the children applying.