Getting a place at an out of catchment school

[worrierandwine]

The schools I would be happy with our DD attending are all out of our catchment. The only school within catchment has a terrible reputation and I can't/ won't send her there.
I know it depends on birth rates for that year and siblings. The schools I would like her to attend are all small but lovely, this unfortunately makes it harder to get a place as they are limited due to size. I don't want to lie on my application but are there any reasons I could state to help us get an place? I'm just desperate ( as all parents are) for her to get a place somewhere I think will suit her and she will thrive rather than becoming lost in a huge school with huge class sizes. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Not at all OP. We had a similar experience with DD at a Day Nursery when she was little and I was at Uni. She went from absolutely loving it to hating every second. I still regret not taking her out of there sooner than I should have Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Do some research around the schools, you mention the sheer volume got you when you visited but if for example your preferred schools have turned into academies or are going to. This may happen anyway. The school my DCs are in now, is very small. However, their future plan is to turn into an academy and accept twice the number of pupils currently on the role within a certain time frame over the next x amount of years to accommodate for high demand. Basically, by the time DS leaves, it'll be just as big as his last school was, if not bigger.

OP, lots of people roll their eyes and says "uhhhh" when I mention the school that DD goes to. Amazing how they know so much when none of them actually have children that have been there ...

If she doesn't start reception you can still get the free nursery funding and send her there until dd is legal school age(term after 5) If you drive have you considered desirable but undersubscribed schools further out. It's not perfect but right move school check indicates which are undersubscribed. There is a small village near us with 2 good schools but no public transport whatsoever, I know people who have got places despite living several miles away.

You need to take the long view, it may be poor now but poor schools don't stay that way very long and it will be turned around.
Unless there is another reason why you don't want your daughter to go there? I'm betting you don't like the look of the kids/families given it is in a bad area.

Blowmybarnicles yes you're right, I don't like the looks of the families that go there as many of them walk past our house effing and blinding at their children. It's not the poor kids I have the issue with, it's the parents! Does that make me a narrow minded snob? So be it, rather that than send my child somewhere I'm not comfortable with. Been there and done that with nursery and my instinct was right as when she went to another she immediately settled in and thrived.