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Original poster

School applications query - only putting one school on form?

51 replies

boototheghost · 27/10/2023 11:14

We live about 30 metres from the outstanding primary school we would like our 3yo to attend next September.

Some people have advised me to only put this one school on our LA application form, and not put any other schools down at all. Is that the correct advice?

I assume we are 99% sure DC will get a place at the school but I don't want to make a misstep.

Can anyone advise? First child so no experience of school applications.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 27/10/2023 11:15

No. That's stupid advice. It won't help you get it whatsoever, and if you don't (I'm sure unlikely), you could be put anywhere.

KMM87 · 27/10/2023 11:16

If it's 30 mins away I'm assuming you're not in the catchment area? I would definitely not just put one school and go and look at others if you haven't already. I don't think you should have your hopes set on one school. What makes you 99% sure you will get a place? We got refused our first choice which was a 7 minute drive away.

Techno56 · 27/10/2023 11:16

Always put down three schools you would be fairly happy with, stupid advice I'm afraid

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Tulipvase · 27/10/2023 11:16

Absolutely no benefit. If you didn’t get that school for some reason , the LA would then choose for you.

AuntieDolly · 27/10/2023 11:17

@KMM87 30 metres

DappledThings · 27/10/2023 11:17

If it's 30 mins away I'm assuming you're not in the catchment area?
30 metres not 30 minutes. Unlikely anyone lives closer!

KMM87 · 27/10/2023 11:17

Oh I didn't see 30 metres 😂😂 yes you probably will get the place in that case but I'd still put second and third choices so that you get a say in the school!

Comefromaway · 27/10/2023 11:18

No, it is not correct advice. If by some fluke the school is oversubscribed and your child does not get a place you will be allocated the nearest available school that still has places left, this could be miles away.

By at least putting a 2nd/3rd choice you are then more likely to be allocated a school that is better/closer to home.

CherryMaple · 27/10/2023 11:18

It’s bad advice. Use all your choices.

Seeline · 27/10/2023 11:19

Have you actually checked the admissions criteria for the school? Distance is usually only one criterion and is not normally the first.
If it's a church school there may be other criteria that push you down the list.
If it's a small school, with an unusually large intake of siblings you may be pushed out.

Always have at least a second choice or you could end up anywhere, or with nothing at all.

Riverlee · 27/10/2023 11:19

That’s really poor advice. My dc went to a one form entry school. One year, all but a few places were filled with younger siblings. You’re more than likely to get into your preferred school, but just in case some thing unusual happened, put at least two other reasonable s schools down.

LittleBearPad · 27/10/2023 11:19

Always use up your choices. If for some reason he doesn’t get in then you’ve prioritised the back ups.

What possible benefit is there in putting one school down. If he gets in to 1st choice you’re sorted and the rest is irrelevant. If not then you’ve had some say where’s your next choice.

DappledThings · 27/10/2023 11:20

Is the school usually full? We live 70 metres from our village school. The next ones are about 4 miles away. With DC1 I did put down 3 but never completed the SIF for one of them so technically only 2.

With DC2 I only bothered putting down the first choice. Being a sibling moved us even further up the priorities and I knew it hadn't been oversubscribed for years so it was pointless adding other choices.

meditrina · 27/10/2023 11:22

It's really stupid advice!

Always fill your form, unless there are utterly exceptional circumstances that mean there is no way you can fail to get in to the one school you have listed.

OP might be OK with it, as she lives so very, very close. But it's very bad advice for everyone else, because if you don't list more schools and you don't qualify for the first, it means you will be allocated any school with a vacancy - which could be anywhere and which you might not like much

BrimfulOfMash · 27/10/2023 11:23

There is no disadvantage to putting other schools on the list.

Put your nearest school first on the list. Then any other schools that you could get to and would be happy for your child to go to.

If (as seems almost certain) your nearest school can offer you a place according to their admissions criteria, then that is the school you will be allocated.

If it is a small school and every place has been taken by LAC, siblings and people who moved in even closer than you in order to get a place, then the LA will allocate the next school on your preferences list that can offer a place.

Only putting down one school does not increase your chances of getting that school.

Listing others as lower preferences addresses the small risk if you not getting a place in your nearest school. So why wouldn’t you take that opportunity?

People come out with all sorts of shit about schools admissions but it is fine according to a law that covers England.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/10/2023 11:23

They're daft. Because if you don't put any other choices down and you don't get offered a place for whatever reason, the only place you will be offered is 'wherever has a space'. Which could be - and often is, as that's why they have spaces, nobody else particularly wants their children to go there - the worst school in the worst area in the furthest reaches of your borough/county.

frenchfries111 · 27/10/2023 11:25

All this. It’s all computerised so if you don’t get number 1 it will just allocate you anywhere.
Chances are you will get number 1 but it’s not worth the risk.

fedupandstuck · 27/10/2023 11:27

No they are wrong, and it's the same wrong advice that gets trotted out each year.

Put the 30metre away school as your first choice. Now, you will 99.99% likely be offered a place there, but in the unusual situation that they fill the whole intake with siblings in catchment, children with EHCPs etc, put down two other schools which you would be ok with getting a place at, if that unlikely event will occur. There is no danger or risk to putting down a second and third preference, it doesn't affect your first choice preference at all.

Somewhatchallenging · 27/10/2023 11:30

You might as well use your other choices and fill the form.

PuttingDownRoots · 27/10/2023 11:31

It has been known for Primary schools to fill completely with siblings. Its rare, but can happen!

Putting back up schools doesn't affect your chance of getting first choice school.

Saying that... I've only listed one school for Secondary school as we live 100m away and the catchment area is 5 miles.

Glittertwins · 27/10/2023 11:31

I know someone that did that. They did not get the place and ended up with the child school less (they rejected the one that was allocated)

Bluevelvetsofa · 27/10/2023 11:33

Use all your preferences. They are preferences, not choices.

Original poster
boototheghost · 27/10/2023 11:36

Ok thank you!! I'll fill in all the choices!

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/10/2023 11:36

Chances are it will make no difference , but if there was a higher proportion of siblings, faith, SEND or LAC applications for example among the applications this year, who could take priority, you might miss out. Check what category your child would be placed in a what is above them. If that were the case, your child could be allocated whatever school had a place at the end of the process. Better to name some other options you would be ok to attend as a backup.

MaggieFS · 27/10/2023 11:37

Yep. Daft not. To put more preferences down. It won't affect whether or not you get the first one, but it does mean that if something crazy happens and you don't get it, you will at least get one you've thought about and is presumably fairly close rather than an absolute random who knows where in your area.

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