Tips on getting DD into first preference (non-catchment) school???

[lilybubble]

Hi all,

Am just applying for a school place for dd, who will start Year R next September (argh, how is this happening already!!)

Dilemma is that the school we want to send her to is not our catchment school, even though it is closer. We much preferred it to the catchment school. I am going to name it as first preference and catchment as second. The form is asking for reasons why we are choosing this school. It's not compulsory but it seems silly not to try and help my cause.

Other thing is that we are moving out of London, 80 miles away for the sake of schools; just don't feel the local schools are good enough. The house purchase is not confirmed yet - offer accepted and going through motions before exchange of contracts.

Does anyone have any bright ideas of good things to mention here, and can you advise as to whether you think it is a good idea to send letter to school pleading case? It's a C of E school, and DD is not christened but I do want her to be. Should I say that, and that we will be going to church or does that look too desperate? Should I say how keen I am to be involved with the school and the benefits I can bring there? Am just not sure if this will help or if they'll laugh it off as a sad waste of time.

Finally, am I being stupid by not putting catchment school as first choice? They have told me they've had 58 apps already, and limit is 60.

Would appreciate pearls of wisdom!

Thanks xx

Does your LEA operate equal preferencing system? If so, putr your 1st choice down as 1st and your 2nd as 2nd. You have an equal chance of both. I thought the deadline was October 19th for next September or that may just be Surrey and Hants.

Saying you will be going to church wont carry any weight btw

I imagine that children already attending church will get preference over your child as will those who live in the catchment area. If your child does not get in to the school you could put her on the waiting list and you may find by september there will be a place. I'm not sure that anything you write will be of much help. Definatley put other schools on the application form as if your child does not get into the school you have chosen she will be allocated a school by the council which you may be really unhappy with. We moved around the time we were applying for DD's school and couldn't apply until contracts were exchanged. Fingers crossed it all works out.

Thanks.. It's Hants, and deadline for Year R is tomorrow at midday. Yup, cutting it fine. Of the list of 7 criteria for admission we only fall into number 7, non-catchment based on distance from school (as we are quite close).

I guess my worry is that if she doesn't get into either we might get left with a not-so-good school. Frustrating that we are moving there because of schools and still can't get it to work for us.

If they have only had 58 applications you probably stand a good chance. Some of those who have applied may move before september or send their child to a private school. Good luck!!!!

I think you should state why you are applying for that school , emphasising any of the criteria you may meet especially since you aren't even local yet. tbh they may have to disregard your application anyway if they do get oversubscribed, at least until you have actually exchanged contracts by which time the offers may have already been issued . Those offered a palce may not always accept though. Are they normally oversubscribed ?

Im a bit confused are you actually applying for a school 80 miles away from where you currently live? Generally the LEA wont accept a new address until youve exchanged contracts & will go by your current address, meaning that yor application will go right to the bottom of the pile. Your only chance is if the school isnt oversubscribed this year. Its a gamble, but you have no other choice you get a place, great, you dont you have to take whats left, no other options im afraid.
We had exactly the same scenario ourselves last year. Our soon to be local school was always oversubscribed & I knew we hadnt a cat in hells chance of getting in there (our house wasnt even under offer at the time) so I didnt even apply. We applied for a local school for dd (even though we had no intention of sending her there) & in july bit the bullet & visited schools in the new area with spaces (still not under offer at this time) We actually managed to get dd into a very nice school & she started in the september. (We didnt move until late december, i drove 50 miles a day until we did) I would still prefer our local school, but it simply aint happening.
Why dont you give the school a call & see how many applications they have now?

By the way. Its a c of e school my girls go to. & despite having loads of criteria stating who gets first option etc etc, we still got in despite the fact that we lived 25 miles away & we werent even asked if we attended church.

Don't forget also that if you do not get your first choice you can always appeal, often successfully. Good luck.

Don't need to be a church goer etc and usually it is not the school that makes the decisions - it is the LEA.

Out of all the three preferences I have listed none of them are the catchment school. I look after my Godson who is 5 and his teacher is on the education board for West Sussex and she said that if your child does not get into your 1st choice (non-catchment), APPEAL. She told me that in all the time she has been on the commitee (a good few years I think) no appeal has ever been turned down.

HTH

FB x

Where I live appeals have been turned down. If the school is full usually the best they can do is to put you on the continuing interest list. A place in usually found for the child within the first couple of school years.